Pediatric Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Sep 18, 2019
  • Author: Kimberly Y Lin, MD; Chief Editor: Syamasundar Rao Patnana, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

The main differential diagnosis for restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is constrictive pericarditis (CP). Differentiating the two conditions can be difficult, particularly in children who have received anthracycline drugs and thoracic radiation as cancer therapy. Cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography are generally able to distinguish between RCM and CP, although both are characterized by abnormal diastolic ventricular filling and elevated ventricular end-diastolic pressures. [30] Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging may also be helpful if stigmata of constrictive pericardial disease are present.