Early X-ray diagnosis of pericardial effusion and its clinical application during cardiac intervention procedures

  AIM   AIM To investigate the early specific X-ray signs of iatrogenic pericardial effusion during cardiac intervention procedures. The present study may provide early diagnosis evidence for pericardial effusion.

  METHODS   Specific X-ray characteristics of pericardial effusion were investigated by analyzing 126 cases of patients with pericardial effusion in our Department from September 2005 to August 2017. These patients included 36 cases of large pericardial effusion, 35 cases of moderate pericardial effusion, and 55 cases of minor pericardial effusion.

  RESULTS   The synchronous beating disturbance of the outside margin and inside margin of the heart (bilateral sign) was the early specific X-ray characteristic of pericardial effusion. With the increase of the volume of pericardial effusion, the synchronous beating of the outside edge and inside edge of the heart became awkward and then disappeared.

  CONCLUSION   The occurrence of the " bilateral sign” or widening of the " bilateral sign” is the early specific X-ray characteristic of pericardial effusion.