ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Historically, cardiac catheterization has been the principal diagnostic modality for the evaluation of the patient with constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and the different forms of cardiomyopathy. The advent of newer cardiac imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography, has led to a shift in the evaluation of patients with these disorders, with the initial diagnostic approach consisting of comprehensive noninvasive imaging following the history and physical examination. The hemodynamic consequences of these disorders may be accurately delineated in most instances by Doppler echocardiography. Therefore, in most cases, the diagnosis and hemodynamic assessment of these entities can be made without the need for cardiac catheterization.
