Pericardial Recesses on Computed Tomography
The pericardium comprises a double-walled fibrous-serosal sac that encloses the heart. Reflections of the serosal layer form sinuses and recesses. With advances in multidetector computed tomography (CT) technology, pericardial recesses are frequently detected with thin-section CT. Knowledge of pericardial anatomy on imaging is crucial to avoid misinterpretation of fluid-filled pericardial sinuses and recesses as adenopathy/pericardial metastasis or aortic dissection, which can impact patient management and treatment decisions. The authors offer a comprehensive review of pericardial anatomy and its variations observed on CT, potential pitfalls in image interpretation, and implications for the pulmonologist with respect to unnecessary diagnostic procedures or interventions.
Source: Clinics in Chest Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Hanna Dalla Pria Ferreira, Lauren T. Erasmus, Taylor A. Strange, Jitesh Ahuja, Rishi Agrawal, Girish S. Shroff, Smita Patel, Mylene T. Truong Source Type: research