Noninvasive Features that Help Differentiate Constrictive Pericarditis from Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
| Constrictive Pericarditis | Restrictive Cardiomyopathy | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical examination | ||
| Kussmaul sign | Present | May be present |
| Pericardial knock | May be present | Absent |
| Chest X-ray | ||
| Pericardial calcification | May be present | Absent |
| Echocardiography | ||
| Thickened pericardium | Present | Absent |
| Thickened myocardium | Absent | Often present |
| Exaggerated variation in transvalvular velocities | Present | Absent |
| CT or MRI | ||
| Thickened pericardium | Present | Absent |