Isolated left ventricular diastolic collapse in pericardial tamponade: an uncommon echocardiographic finding.

A case of circumferential moderate pericardial effusion causing isolated collapse of left ventricular cavity on two-dimensional echocardiography is reported. Pericardial effusion, mostly of infective etiology, is relatively common in this part of the world. When large enough to cause tamponade, collapse of right atrium, right ventricle, and uncommonly left atrium can be seen. Left ventricular collapse is rare, both due to the larger muscle mass and higher chamber pressure.