Abstract

Pericardial tuberculosis is a rare extra pulmonary manifestation that affects approximately 1 to 2% of patients. Its clinical presentation is variable and nonspecific, which may hinder or delay the diagnostic definition resulting in late complications such as constrictive pericarditis and increased mortality. Imaging tests are noninvasive methods that may aid in presumptive diagnosis, since pericardial effusion is the most frequent sign. The finding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial tissue fragment biopsy or culture of pericardial fluid confirms the diagnosis. Therapy is shown to be highly effective with the use of the four-fold antituberculosis regimen for six months. The use of corticosteroids is controversial. The objective of this report is to present a case of pericardial tuberculosis associated with constrictive pericarditis diagnosed in the internal medicine service of a hospital in Ubá-MG, Brazil. It is very important to remember this pathology in cases of pericardial effusion of unknown etiology.

Keywords: Pericardial tuberculosis; Constrictive pericarditis; Extrapulmonary tuberculosis