page_title: Pericardial effusion
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Pericardial effusion / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: Pericardial effusion with tamponade
context_page_description: Pericardial effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity. Because of the limited amount of space in the pericardial cavity, fluid accumulation leads to an increased intrapericardial pressure which can negatively affect heart function. A pericardial effusion with enough pressure to adversely affect heart function is called cardiac tamponade. Pericardial effusion usually results from a disturbed equilibrium between the production and re-absorption of pericardial fluid, or from a structural abnormality that allows fluid to enter the pericardial cavity.
  Normal levels of pericardial fluid are from 15 to 50 ml.
context_section_description: It may be:
  transudative (congestive heart failure, myxoedema, nephrotic syndrome),
  exudative (tuberculosis, spread from empyema)
  hemorrhagic (trauma, rupture of aneurysms, malignant effusion).
  malignant (due to fluid accumulation caused by metastasis)
  The most common causes of pericardial effusion have changed over time and vary depending on geography and the population in question. When pericardial effusion is suspected, echocardiography usually confirms the diagnosis and allows assessment for signs of hemodynamic instability. Cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography (CT) can help to localize and quantify (as in a loculated effusion) or assess for pericardial pathology (pericardial thickening, constrictive pericarditis).
caption: Sinus tachycardia with low QRS voltage and QRS alternans
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