Pericardial calcification
Updates to Article Attributes
Pericardial calcification is usually seen in individual patients with a history of pericarditis and may be associated with constrictive pericarditis.
Pathology
Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium.
- previous trauma or prior pericarditis
- uraemia
- later sequelae of rheumatic heart disease
- malignant pericardial involvement (e.g. mediastinal teratoma)
- post-radiotherapy 5
Radiographic features
On chest radiography, the location of the calcifications can help differentiate pericardial calcifications from myocardial calcifications caused by ventricular aneurysms. While pericardialPericardial calcification is seen more commonlycommon over the right ventricle, myocardial calcifications are seen more commonlyheart than the left heart. Calcification over the left ventriclecardiac apex is more likey myocardial (e.g. from prior infarction) than be pericardial in location 3,6.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis for pericardial calcifications include:
- constrictive pericarditis: in the setting of heart failure with concern for constrictive pericarditis or restrictive cardiomyopathy, calcifications are highly suggestive of the former
- chronic adhesive pericarditis in the absence of constriction: less dense with a more patchy distribution 1
- rheumatic pericarditis 2
- myocardial calcification (e.g. from left ventricular aneurysm)
-<p><strong>Pericardial calcification</strong> is usually seen in individual patients with a history of <a href="/articles/pericarditis">pericarditis</a> and may be associated with <a title="Constrictive pericarditis" href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis">constrictive pericarditis</a>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium. </p><ul>- +<p><strong>Pericardial calcification</strong> is usually seen in individual patients with a history of <a href="/articles/pericarditis">pericarditis</a> and may be associated with <a href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis">constrictive pericarditis</a>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericadium. </p><ul>
-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>On chest radiography, the location of the calcifications can help differentiate pericardial calcifications from myocardial calcifications caused by ventricular aneurysms. While pericardial calcification is seen more commonly over the right ventricle, myocardial calcifications are seen more commonly over the left ventricle <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The differential diagnosis for pericardial calcifications include:</p><ul>- +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Pericardial calcification is more common over the right heart than the left heart. Calcification over the cardiac apex is more likey myocardial (e.g. from prior <a title="Myocardial infarction" href="/articles/myocardial-infarction">infarction</a>) than be pericardial in location <sup>3,6</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The differential diagnosis for pericardial calcifications include:</p><ul>
References changed:
- 6. MacGregor J, Chen J, Chiles C, Kier R, Godwin J, Ravin C. The Radiographic Distinction Between Pericardial and Myocardial Calcifications. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987;148(4):675-7. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.148.4.675">doi:10.2214/ajr.148.4.675</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3493647">Pubmed</a>