CMR imaging in constrictive pericarditis: is seeing believing?

p i a i t e e p p a d i p a f T s a b v s c u a u i fi c w s t o o t p The diagnosis of pericardial disease can be difficult and often requires a multimodality imaging approach. In particular, the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis can be challenging, and differentiation from restrictive cardiomyopathy is important for management. Currently, diagnostic evaluations focus on evaluation of pericardial thickness, septal motion, systolic and diastolic myocardial function, invasive pressure measurement, and endomyocardial biopsy in conjunction with clinical assessment for diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (1).