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Isolated Congenital Absence of the Pericardium

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Abstract

Absence of the pericardium can vary from partial to complete absence. Patients with complete absence of the pericardium are either asymptomatic or have nonspecific chest pain, and no treatment is needed. Patients with partial absence of the pericardium are at risk for possible symptomatic herniation of the left atrial appendage or left ventricle, leading to fatal myocardial strangulation. Therefore, it is very important to differentiate partial from complete absence of the pericardium. A 7-year-old girl presented with isolated congenital absence of the pericardium, which generally has a good prognosis. It is a relatively asymptomatic anomaly that usually requires no treatment. Some cases involve complications that require operative treatment. Absence of the pericardium can be precisely defined by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, Elazig, Turkey

    Ayse Murat & Erkin Ogur

  2. Department of Radiology, Elazıg Training and Research Hospital, Elazig, 23100, Turkey

    Hakan Artas

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey

    Erdal Yilmaz

Authors
  1. Ayse Murat
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  2. Hakan Artas
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  3. Erdal Yilmaz
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  4. Erkin Ogur
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Correspondence to Hakan Artas.

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Murat, A., Artas, H., Yilmaz, E. et al. Isolated Congenital Absence of the Pericardium. Pediatr Cardiol 29, 862–864 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-008-9212-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-008-9212-5

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