Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Atypical chest x-ray calcification in an idiopathic constrictive pericarditis case
Uğur Coşkun1, Ismail Polat Canbolat1, Umit Yaşar Sinan1
1Istanbul University, Institute of Cardiology, Cardiology Department, Haseki Street, Fatih, 34096 Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract:
Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon cause of heart failure. It is a clinical entity caused by thickening, fibrosis, and/or calcification of the pericardium. We present a 50-year-old female patient who was admitted to our institution with a 6-month history of progressive dyspnea on exertion, abdominal swelling, and lower extremity edema. Her chest X-ray revealed an oblique linear calcification in the cardiac silhouette. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed biatrial enlargement. Left ventricular size and systolic function were normal. Cardiac computed tomography revealed the pericardial thickening (>5 mm) and heavy calcification in left atrioventricular groove. Simultaneous right and left heart catheterization showed elevation and equalization of right-sided and left-sided diastolic filling pressures, with characteristic dip, and plateau. Pericardiectomy was performed which revealed a thick, fibrous, calcified, and densely adherent pericardium constricting the heart. The postoperative period was uneventful and was in NYHA functional class I after 3 months.
Related Concept Videos
Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

