Pleuropericarditis complicated by a pericardial cyst

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Pericardial cysts are rare mediastinal masses, often congenital but can be inflammatory.
• Patients may present with atypical chest pain, cough, or compressive symptoms.
• Surgical intervention has been the traditional approach for symptomatic pericardial cysts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an uncommon case of a pericardial cyst.
• To explore non-operative management of pericardial cysts.
• To highlight the potential inflammatory component of pericardial cysts.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 36-year-old woman with chest pressure.
• Diagnostic imaging using chest computed tomography (CT) scan.
• Treatment with anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen and colchicine).

Main Results:

• Chest CT revealed a large pericardial cyst (6.9 cm x 4 cm x 2.5 cm).
• Patient's symptoms improved with anti-inflammatory treatment.
• A significant decrease in cyst size was observed, suggesting an inflammatory process.

Conclusions:

• Pericardial cysts may possess an inflammatory component, responding to anti-inflammatory therapy.
• Non-operative management can be a viable option for select patients with symptomatic pericardial cysts.
• This case suggests that viral-induced pericarditis may be complicated by a pericardial cyst that can resolve with treatment.