Horowitz et al classified pericardial effusions based on changes seen on echocardiography.
|
Type
|
Echocardiographic Findings
|
|
A
|
no effusion
|
|
B
|
small effusion, 3 to 16 mL (variable systolic separation)
|
|
C1
|
systolic and diastolic separation of epicardium and pericardium; small effusion > 16 mL
|
|
C2
|
systolic and diastolic separation of epicardium and pericardium with attenuated pericardial motion (flat)
|
|
D
|
pronounced separation of epicardium and pericardium with large echo-free space (large effusion)
|
|
E
|
pericardial thickening (> 4 mm)
|
