A 28-year-old man arrives at the emergency department complaining of increased chest tightness and occasional acute chest pains for three days. He also experiences slight breathlessness, particularly with exercise. The patient has no past chronic medical issues, however he did have an upper respiratory ailment a week ago that went away on its own. The ECG exhibits sinus tachycardia and low voltage QRS complexes whose amplitude varies from beat to beat. Which of the following chest x-ray findings is more likely in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Pericardial effusion is a frequent complication of acute viral pericarditis. Tachycardia and ECG findings of low voltage QRS and electrical alternans are classic pericardial effusion characteristics. An x-ray of the chest often shows an enlarged cardiac profile with clean lungs.

A 28-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Emergency Department Complaining of Increased