Intrapericardial tumbling bullet

Foreign bodies of the pericardium are rare and they are associated most commonly with significant trauma. The diagnosis of a pericardial foreign body can be difficult. One must distinguish between foreign matter in the cardiac chamber or free-floating in the mediastinum. Serial chest X-rays and fluoroscopy were most helpful to us. Neither CT scan nor an echocardiogram were particularly helpful. To prevent pericarditis, either sterile or non-sterile, with potential for other significant complications, removal of a pericardial foreign body is always indicated.