Q: What is pericardial fat? What is difference between pericardial effusion and pericardial fat from echocardiogram?

A:Pericardium is a covering layer of the heart and fat surround the pericardium is called pericardial fat. Pericardial effusion means fluid collection around the heart. Pericardial fat is present outside the pericardium, while the effusion is present in side the pericardium. On echocardiography, the characteristics of the reflected sound wave are different for the fat and the fluid.