Pericardial Cyst at an Unusual Location: The Role of CT Imaging

The pericardial cyst is a benign, uncommon congenital cystic lesion of pericardial origin located in the anterior and middle mediastinum. Most commonly, pericardial cysts are located in the right anterior cardiophrenic angle. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest are the non-invasive imaging modalities for the diagnosis of the pericardial cyst. Here we present a case of a 55-year-old male who presented with coughing and chest pain for two weeks. A chest X-ray revealed a soft-tissue opacity mass in the left lower zone. A CT of the chest showed a fluid-density cystic lesion in close proximity to the pericardium, located along the left posterior cardiophrenic angle, an uncommon location for a pericardial cyst.