New, poorly recognized echocardiographic findings. Occurrence in patients with pericardial effusion.

New, poorly recognized echocardiographic findings were recorded in six patients with pericardial effusion. These findings were apparent prolapse of mitral and tricuspid valves, apparent systolic anterior motion of mitral valve, and midsystolic notching of pulmonic valve. Beat-to-beat variation of the dimensions of right and left ventricle and in the diastolic opening amplitude of the anterior mitral valve were present in cardiac tamponade. Substantial decrease or resolution of effusion resulted in disappearance of the observed abnormalities. Serial echographic studies before and after fluid resolution may prevent misleading echographic and clinical diagnoses.