Idiopathic calcific constrictive pericarditis causing pulmonary stenosis associated with a ventricular septal defect mimicking tetralogy of Fallot.

We describe an unusual case of pulmonary stenosis caused by calcific constrictive pericarditis associated with a congenital ventricular septal defect in a 16-year-old boy who had a 2-week history of progressive dyspnea, cyanosis, fatigue, and bilateral leg edema. Echocardiographic findings led to an initial diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot; however, findings on chest radiography and CT were suggestive of calcific constrictive pericarditis with pulmonary stenosis, which was then confirmed on cardiac catheterization. Total pericardiectomy and repair of the ventricular septal defect resulted in a satisfactory outcome. Follow-up examinations at 6 and 20 months showed that the patient was asymptomatic and considered to have class I New York Heart Association functional status. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of calcific constrictive pericarditis with pulmonary stenosis associated with a ventricular septal defect. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:222-225, 2003