What is the cardiac dullness boundary like in patients with pericardial effusion when sitting?
Disease description:
Sudden onset with severe cardiac discomfort. During examination, when sitting, what is the shape of the cardiac dullness border in patients with pericardial effusion?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Jianbin
Patients with pericardial effusion in a sitting position show a cardiac dullness that appears triangular, with the base widened and the apex narrowed. For this sign to be evident, when lying supine, the width of cardiac dullness at the base increases, whereas in the sitting position it displays a triangular shape. Causes of pericardial accumulation include tumors, heart failure, autoimmune diseases, uremia or infection, and renal failure.
