[Diagnosis and management of pericardial cysts and diverticulum]

Eleven cases of pericardial cysts and 3 cases of pericardial diverticulum were reported. The prominent X-ray manifestations were a round or oval shape shadow with homogeneous density and smooth border in the mediastinum. In this series, the sizes of the lesions were 5-22 cm in diameter with averaged 9.9 cm. In the cases of pericardial diverticulum with a large base, fluoroscopic examination usually revealed that variation in contour of diventiculums during respiration and changing in position of the patients. Some aspects on the operation for pericardial cysts with secondary infection or adhering to the cardiac muscles were suggested in this paper.