Pericardial calcification
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
Pericardial calcification is usually seen in individual patients with a history of pericarditis and may be associated with constructiveconstrictive pericarditis.
Pathology
Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium.
- previous trauma or prior pericarditis
- uraemia
- later sequelae of rheumatic heart disease
- malignant pericardial involvement (e.g. mediastinal teratoma)
- post-radiotherapy 5
Radiographic features
On chest radiography, the location of the calcifications can help differentiate pericardial calcifications from myocardial calcifications caused by ventricular aneurysms. While pericardial calcification is seen more commonly over the right ventricle, myocardial calcifications are seen more commonly over the left ventricle 3.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis for pericardial calcifications include:
- constrictive pericarditis: in the setting of heart failure with concern for constrictive pericarditis or restrictive cardiomyopathy, calcifications are highly suggestive of the former
- chronic adhesive pericarditis in the absence of constriction: less dense with a more patchy distribution 1
- rheumatic pericarditis 2
- myocardial calcification (e.g. from left ventricular aneurysm)
-<p><strong>Pericardial calcification</strong> is usually seen in individual patients with a history of <a href="/articles/pericarditis">pericarditis</a> and may be associated with <a title="Constrictive pericarditis" href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis">constructive pericarditis</a>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium. </p><ul>- +<p><strong>Pericardial calcification</strong> is usually seen in individual patients with a history of <a href="/articles/pericarditis">pericarditis</a> and may be associated with <a title="Constrictive pericarditis" href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis">constrictive pericarditis</a>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium. </p><ul>
-<li>malignant pericardial involvement (e.g. <a title="Mediastinal teratoma" href="/articles/mediastinal-teratoma">mediastinal teratoma</a>)</li>- +<li>malignant pericardial involvement (e.g. <a href="/articles/mediastinal-teratoma">mediastinal teratoma</a>)</li>
Sections changed:
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.