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Diagnosis of Pericarditis



Before making a diagnosis of pericarditis, your doctor will first take your complete medical history before questioning you about your chest pain or other symptoms. A physical examination will also be performed and the doctor will check your heart for the characteristic sounds of pericarditis with a stethoscope. These sounds are known as a pericardial rub which is the sound made by the pericardial layers rubbing together.

Your doctor may also ask you to undergo certain tests to help him determine the underlying cause of the pericarditis. Tests for pericarditis include:

  • Blood Tests: These will help to identify any underlying infection that may have caused the pericarditis.
  • Chest X-ray: A chest x-ray can help the doctor study the size and shape of your heart and identify any abnormalities like increased size due to fluid buildup.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): Electrodes are attached to your skin around the chest area and the electrical impulses of your heart measured. The electrical impulses are converted to images and then printed on paper. The results would help the doctor identify the cause of the chest pain and make a diagnosis of pericarditis or a heart attack.
  • Echocardiogram: High frequency sound waves are used to create an image of your heart and its internal structures, including fluid buildup in the pericardium. The images can be analyzed on a monitor.
  • Computerized Tomography Scan (CT Scan): This technique produces detailed images of the heart and the pericardium that are superior to those of a conventional x-ray. A CT scan is usually performed to rule out other causes of chest pain like a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in a lung artery) or an aortic dissection (a tear in the aorta). It may also help diagnose constrictive pericarditis which is caused by a thickening of the pericardium.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Magnetic fields are used to create detailed cross-sectional images of the heart and can reveal any changes in the pericardium.

Signs & Symptoms
Prognosis
Frequently asked questions
References
  1. Brent E. Mabey, Ron M. Walls, Acute pericarditis, The Journal of Emergency Medicine, Volume 3, Issue 6, 1985, Pages 457-467, ISSN 0736-4679, 10.1016/0736-4679(85)90005-8.
  2. Susy S. Hota, ChiMing Chow, Daniel Bonneau, Robert J. Chisholm, Surgical treatment for incessant pericarditis, Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Volume 25, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 161-162, ISSN 0828-282X, 10.1016/S0828-282X(09)70048-0.