PURPOSE: To determine the value of pericardial biopsy as a complementary exam in the etiology of pericardial effusion. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively (from 1990 to 1997) 38 patients with pericardial effusion. The age ranged between 3 months and 79 years (mean 41.15± 21.78 years). Pericardial biopsy was perfomed in all cases through a subxiphoid incision. RESULTS: In 4 patients (10.5%) the biopsy was able to define etiology, 2 had tuberculosis and 2 neoplasias (1 undetermined adenocarcinoma, 1 mesotelioma). In 34 patients the biopsy showed inespecific chronic pericarditis. CONCLUSION: Pericardial biopsy was not an effective method to determine the etiological diagnosis in pericardial effusion patients. We believe that we have to individualise the indication of pericardial biopsy especially if tuberculosis or neoplasia are suspected.
pericarditis; biopsy; etiology
