Pericardial disease: value of CT and MR imaging

Jan Bogaert1, Marco Francone

  • 1Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. jan.bogaert@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

Radiology
|April 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Advances in noninvasive cardiac imaging, including echocardiography, CT, and MR imaging, have significantly improved the diagnosis of pericardial diseases. These techniques offer detailed insights into the pericardium

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Pericardial disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular patients.
  • Recent advancements in diagnostic techniques have enhanced understanding of the pericardium.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of the pericardium in cardiovascular health and disease.
  • To highlight the impact of modern imaging modalities on diagnosing pericardial conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on pericardial imaging.
  • Discussion of transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac CT, and cardiac MR imaging.
  • Emphasis on noninvasive diagnostic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for pericardial disease.
  • Cardiac CT excels in visualizing pericardial calcifications.
  • Cardiac MR imaging provides comprehensive assessment of pericardial abnormalities and their impact on cardiac function.

Conclusions:

  • Modern imaging modalities have revolutionized the diagnosis and understanding of pericardial diseases.
  • CT and MR imaging are increasingly vital tools for evaluating the pericardium.
  • These advancements necessitate a re-evaluation of existing knowledge regarding pericardial conditions.
Abstract

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