Pericardial fat pads
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Pericardial fat pads are normal structures that lie in the cardiophrenic angle. They are adipose tissues surrounding the heart composed of the epicardial fat, which lies between the myocardium and visceral pericardium, and paracardial fat, which is adherent and external to the parietal pericardium. Unsurprisingly, they are more prominent in obese patients.
Pathology
They can be affected by fat necrosis, see: pericardial fat necrosis and inflammation directly causing coronary athetomatous disease 6.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- mass or hazy opacity in the cardiophrenic angle
- cardiac and diaphragmatic silhouettes usually visible
CT
- easily differentiates pericardial fat pad from pathology other than a lipoma
Differential diagnosis
At times they are large enough to simulate pathology and can be mistaken for:
-
lipoma or another pericardial
tumortumour - pericardial cyst (especially on the right)
- Morgagni hernia
- epicardial lymphadenopathy
- pleural
tumortumour - pseudocardiomegaly
-<p><strong>Pericardial</strong><strong> fat pads</strong> are normal structures that lie in the <a href="/articles/cardiodiaphragmatic-angles">cardiophrenic angle</a>. They are adipose tissues surrounding the heart composed of the epicardial fat, which lies between the myocardium and visceral pericardium, and paracardial fat, which is adherent and external to the parietal pericardium. Unsurprisingly, they are more prominent in <a href="/articles/obesity">obese</a> patients. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>They can be affected by fat necrosis, see: <a href="/articles/pericardial-fat-necrosis-2">pericardial fat necrosis</a> and inflammation directly causing coronary athetomatous disease <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul>- +<p><strong>Pericardial</strong><strong> fat pads</strong> are normal structures that lie in the <a href="/articles/cardiodiaphragmatic-angles">cardiophrenic angle</a>. They are adipose tissues surrounding the heart composed of the epicardial fat, which lies between the myocardium and visceral pericardium, and paracardial fat, which is adherent and external to the parietal pericardium. Unsurprisingly, they are more prominent in <a href="/articles/obesity">obese</a> patients. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>They can be affected by fat necrosis, see: <a href="/articles/epipericardial-fat-necrosis-1">pericardial fat necrosis</a> and inflammation directly causing coronary athetomatous disease <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul>
-<a href="/articles/lipoma">lipoma</a> or another <a href="/articles/pericardial-tumours">pericardial tumor</a>- +<a href="/articles/lipoma">lipoma</a> or another <a href="/articles/pericardial-tumours">pericardial tumour</a>
-<li><a href="/articles/pleural-tumours">pleural tumor</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/pleural-tumours">pleural tumour</a></li>
Images Changes:
Image 6 CT (non-contrast) ( create )
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