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(Circulation. 2006;113:e4-e5.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Images in Cardiovascular Medicine

Assessment of Pericardial Inflammation in a Patient With Tuberculous Effusive Constrictive Pericarditis With ¹⁸F-2-Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

Jong-Won Ha, MD, PhD; Jong-Doo Lee, MD, PhD; Young-Gook Ko, MD; Mijin Yun, MD; Se-Joong Rim, MD, PhD; Namsik Chung, MD, PhD; Sang-Ho Cho, MD, PhD

From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Radiology, and Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Correspondence to Jong-Won Ha, MD, PhD, Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. E-mail jwha{at}yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon but treatable cause of heart failure that results from a variety of acute inflammatory processes. Although complete surgical pericardiectomy remains the only definitive treatment, complete resection may not be easy in the presence of residual inflammation and friable pericardium. However, no reliable diagnostic test is available to accurately evaluate the inflammation of the pericardium. This case illustrates that a noninvasive imaging modality, ¹⁸F-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography, may be useful for the assessment of pericardial inflammation.

A 75-year-old woman was evaluated for progressively worsening exertional dyspnea. On physical examination, her jugular vein was distended, and her liver was enlarged. An ECG showed sinus tachycardia with low-voltage QRS. Echocardiography showed a moderate amount of pericardial effusion without significant hemodynamic compromise. However, abnormal septal motion (septal bouncing) was noted, suggestive of constrictive physiology. FDG positron emission tomography showed prominent uptake in the visceral and parietal pericardium, suggesting active inflammation (Figure 1, left panel). Closed pericardiostomy with biopsy was performed. After pericardiostomy with drainage, echocardiographic features of constrictive physiology persisted and thus verified the presence of effusive constrictive pericarditis. Pathology showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis consistent with tuberculosis (AFB stain: positive; Figure 2). Antituberculosis medication was started (isoniazid 400 mg, ethambutol 800 mg, rifampin 600 mg, pyrazinamide 1500 mg/d). Follow-up FDG positron emission tomography 12 months after administration of antituberculosis medication showed no visible uptake in the visceral and parietal pericardium, suggesting resolved inflammation (Figure 1, right panel).

View larger version (79K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Left, PET scan showed homogenous uptake in the visceral and parietal pericardium, suggesting active inflammation. Right, Follow-up FDG positron emission tomography 12 months after administration of antituberculosis medication showed no visible uptake in the visceral and parietal pericardium, suggesting resolved inflammation.

View larger version (184K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Pathology showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis consistent with tuberculosis.

	Acknowledgments

 
Disclosures

None.

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Issue Highlights
Circulation 2006 113: 1. [Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ha, J.-W. Articles by Cho, S.-H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ha, J.-W. Articles by Cho, S.-H. Related Collections Nuclear cardiology and PET Related Article