Fibrinofibrous pericarditis mimicking a pericardial tumor

Abstract

Primary pericardial disease is rare in children. The clinical features usually reflect limited venous return and cardiac output. Tuberculous pericarditis is the leading cause of pericardial disease in developing nations. A definitive diagnosis in children is frequently difficult and the manifestations are protean. We report a 10-month-old girl with fibrinofibrous pericarditis that manifested as constrictive pericarditis with prolonged fever, hepatomegaly, edema, and poor appetite. Echocardiography showed a solid mass that originated from the thickened pericardium and compressed the whole heart. In contrast, computed tomography revealed pericardial thickening with fluid collection. The symptoms and signs dramatically improved after surgical pericardiectomy. Pathologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculous fibrinofibrous pericarditis. The patient received a 1-year course of antituberculosis therapy and has remained symptom free for 2 years. We suggest that a discrepancy between echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) findings might indicate a diagnosis of fibrinofibrous pericarditis.