A missed diagnosis: a case of partial pericardial defect

Congenital pericardial defects (CPDs) are rare congenital abnormalities characterized by the complete or partial absence of the pericardium. They are often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally through imaging. Some individuals can experience non-specific symptoms, whilst others can have serious complications. The gold standard for diagnosing pericardial defects is cardiac MRI. Management is case-dependent and usually reserved for partial defects. Here, we present a case of a 57-year-old male who presented with recurrent chest pain and was found to have partial pericardial defect, a diagnosis missed on prior imaging, and discuss the diagnosis and management.