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MRI findings of pericardial fat necrosis: case report

Hyo Hyeok Lee1, Dae Shick Ryu, Sang Sig Jung

  • 1Department of Radiology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Gangwon-do 210-711, Korea.

Korean Journal of Radiology
|May 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pericardial fat necrosis can cause acute chest pain, mimicking heart attacks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can help distinguish this condition from other chest pain causes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Thoracic Radiology
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Pericardial fat necrosis is a rare condition presenting as acute chest pain.
  • It can be mistaken for more common and serious conditions like myocardial infarction or pericarditis.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

  • This study details a patient diagnosed with pericardial fat necrosis.
  • Key diagnostic findings were obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Computed tomography (CT) findings were correlated with MRI results.

Findings:

  • MRI demonstrated characteristic features of pericardial fat necrosis.
  • CT imaging provided complementary data, confirming the diagnosis.
  • The imaging findings were distinct from other causes of acute chest pain.

Implications:

  • MRI findings can aid in differentiating pericardial fat necrosis from acute myocardial infarction and pericarditis.
  • Imaging can also help distinguish it from fat-containing tumors in the anterior mediastinum.
  • This distinction is vital for avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures and ensuring correct treatment.
Keywords:
Fat necrosisMagnetic resonance (MR)Pericardial fat

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