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CT Imaging of the Pericardium

  • Cardiac Computed Tomography (TC Villines and S Achenbach, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Pericardial disease can be challenging to diagnose, and imaging can play a useful role in confirming or even suggesting the diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) is a particularly appealing option for investigating pericardial disease in many patients because the differential diagnosis for symptoms of acute pericarditis or constrictive pericarditis often includes other diseases which are also well assessed with CT. In addition, many patients will have findings of pericardial disease manifest on CT imaging for other suspected diseases, and these findings can be missed if careful attention is not paid to the pericardium. CT also can play an important role in evaluating specific pericardial lesions, such as cysts, tumors, and abscesses. We will review findings of various pericardial diseases on CT with illustrative cases.

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Conflict of Interest

Phillip M. Young declares no conflict of interest.

Jerome F. Breen declares no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA

    Phillip M. Young & Jerome F. Breen

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  1. Phillip M. Young
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  2. Jerome F. Breen
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Correspondence to Phillip M. Young.

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Young, P.M., Breen, J.F. CT Imaging of the Pericardium. Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep 6, 259–267 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-013-9200-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-013-9200-x

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