Tubercular constrictive pericarditis: Still a diagnostic dilemma in modern era of advanced molecular diagnostics

Dr Ashish Hota; Dr Binod Kumar Pati

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2017

Tubercular constrictive pericarditis: Still a diagnostic dilemma in modern era of advanced molecular diagnostics

Dr Ashish Hota, Dr Binod Kumar Pati

Abstract :

In developed countries, idiopathic constrictive pericarditis is common but tuberculosis is still an important cause in India. Patients present with nonspecific complaints and features of right heart failure. Therefore, diagnosis is difficult as it requires high degree of clinical suspicion and often delayed treatment results in higher morbidity and mortality. We present here a challenging case of tubercular constrictive pericarditis where the etiology remained illusive until pericardiectomy and histopathological examination of pericardium was done.