THE CIRCULATION TIME (ARM TO TONGUE TIME) IN LARGE PERICARDIAL EFFUSIONS: AN AID IN THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS BETWEEN LARGE PERICARDIAL EFFUSION AND CARDIAC DILATATION

Abstract
Circulation time measurements, in 13 cases of massive pericardial effusion and in 1 case of adherent pericardium, were normal in 11 and slightly prolonged in 3. Thus, in any given case in which the cardiac silhouette is much enlarged, the circulation time can provide a neans for differentiating between pericardial effusion and cardiac dilatation. The circulation time would be expected to be markedly prolonged if the increased size of the cardiac silhouette is due mainly to cardiac dilatation.