Pericardial calcification

Last revised by Calum Worsley on 22 Feb 2023

Pericardial calcification is usually seen in individual patients with a history of pericarditis and may be associated with constrictive pericarditis

Although historically infective pericarditis was the most common cause, a wide variety of insults can lead to calcification of the pericardium. 

Pericardial calcification is more common over the right side, anterior and diaphragmatic aspects of the heart in the atrioventricular grooves 2. Calcifications over the left ventricle or cardiac apex are rare, unless pericardial calcification is extensive. It is important to assess for signs of associated constrictive pericarditis.

  • a curvilinear density at the extreme margin of the cardiac silhouette (better on lateral view)
  • extension of calcification over the pulmonary outflow tract (better on lateral view)
  • dilated ​left atrium: due less pericardial investment, even with pericardial constriction, mimicking mitral stenosis

Tuberculous calcifications are the most dense, in the atrioventricular grooves and appear as thick, amorphous oblique circles or arcs of calcifications then spread over the atria and ventricles 2.

Patients with pericardial calcification may be asymptomatic. If present, symptoms are usually those of heart failure caused by the pericardial calcification restricting the ability of the heart to distend with blood in diastole. In some patients this can be controlled medically, but if the calcification is established this is often ineffective. Pericardiectomy, although not without risk, is potentially curative 3.

The differential diagnosis for pericardial calcifications include: