Demonstration of pericardial effusion by real-time ultrasonography.

Pericardial effusion has a variety of causes. Among these, inflammatory processes are the most common. Traditionally x-rays, isotopic scanning, carbon dioxide injection, and M-mode echocardiography have been used for evaluation of pericardial effusion. The most recent advance in real time scanning enables the examiner to more completely and more accurately evaluate and serially investigate pericardial effusions through a noninvasive technique.