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Constrictive pericarditis

Case contributed by Prashant Gupta
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Previous history of carcinoma of the left breast that was managed with surgery and radiotherapy. Now presenting with heart failure.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

ct

There is diffuse thickening of the anterior pericardium, upto the vascular root, best seen in multiplanar reformat images. Indentation of right ventricle is seen, causing a "tubular" configuration.

Post-operative changes are seen in left chest wall.

The inferior vena cava is dilated to more than double the aortic diameter.

Case Discussion

This case depicts CT findings of constrictive pericarditis. Common causes of constrictive pericarditis include injury, infection, and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is the most likely cause in this patient given her history of left-sided breast cancer that was treated with radiotherapy.

CT and MRI can aid in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, as clinically constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy are similar and may be indistinguishable. In constrictive pericarditis, CT classically shows thickening (>4 mm) of the pericardium, most commonly anteriorly, and pericardial calcifications.

However, radiographical evidence of constrictive pericarditis should also be accompanied by evidence of heart failure. Imaging signs that suggest heart failure (especially right-sided dysfunction) include: a dilated right atrium, dilated hepatic veins, dilated inferior vena cava to more than twice aortic diameter, periportal edema, enlarged superior vena cava to more than the adjacent aorta, reflux of contrast into the inferior vena cava and distal hepatic veins (proximal reflux can be seen with high flow rates).

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