Prominent isovolumic relaxation flow in a patient with cardiac tamponade.

We present herein the case of a 72-year-old man who presented with orthopnea and was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade due to carcinomatous pericarditis. Pulsed Doppler echocardiogram showed prominent isovolumic relaxation flow (IVRF) directed from the cardiac base toward the apex. Such flow is rare in pericardial effusion and may be due to enhanced early diastolic untwisting, sphericalization of apex, and restriction of wall motion by epicardial fibrous tissue. We describe herein a rare case of prominent IVRF with interesting underlying mechanisms.