Pitfalls

Pitfalls

Subxiphoid View

False Positive – Epicardial Fat Pad

    • An epicardial fat pad can be found in young healthy individuals.
    • It will move synchronously with the heart and will not encompass the heart.
    • The epicardial fat pad will also be more prominent anteriorly, while PCE will be more prominent posteriorly.

 

FIGURE 13: Epicardial fat pad on subxiphoid view.

 

Parasternal Long View

False Positive – Pleural Effusion

    • Pleural effusions can be seen on the parasternal long view but will typically be found in the far field, deep to the descending aorta (reminder: a pericardial effusion will be seen near field to the descending aorta).