Angiocardiography in Constrictive

The conventional x-ray film examinations and the angio- cardiographic features of 13 cases of constrictive pen- carditis are analyzed and compared with those In five cases ofcardial effusion and four cases of congestive cardiomyopathy. The conventional x-ray film examina- tion can contribute to the diagnosis of constrictive pen- carditis if the following combination of features is pres- ent absent to moderate cardiomegaly with poorly pulsat- lug straightened heart borders, together with left atnial enlargement and signs of pulmonary venous hypertension. The angiocardiographic features described in the liters- tune for the diagnosis of constrictive penicarditis are con- firmed, namely: reflux of contrast material into the dilated inferior vena cava straightening of the opacified right atrial lateral borderincreased thickness of the right atrial exfraluminal shadow; straightening of the opacified night ventricular cavity's septal borderand increased pulmo- nary circulation time. It is stressed that the following