Pericardial calcification
Updates to Case Attributes
Pericardial calcification may occur secondary to a wide variety of inflammatory insults ranging from viral infections, uraemia, and pericarditis, which usually result in a more thin, egg shelleggshell pattern of calcification, to more aggressive inflammatory conditions such as TB, in which thick, confluent, and irregular calcification may be seen.
The presence of pericardial calcification itself does not imply constrictive pericarditis and may be an asymptomatic incidental finding. However, other features of constrictive cardiac failure such as pleural effusion(s), retrograde flow of contrast into a dilated IVC, and leftward deviation of the interventricular septum should be evaluated for.
The normal pericardial thickness on the CT scan should be less than 2 mm[1] 1.
-<p><a href="/articles/pericardial-calcification" title="Pericardial calcification">Pericardial calcification</a> may occur secondary to a wide variety of inflammatory insults ranging from viral infections, uraemia and pericarditis, which usually result in a more thin, egg shell pattern of calcification, to more aggressive inflammatory conditions such as TB, in which thick, confluent and irregular calcification may be seen.</p><p>The presence of pericardial calcification itself does not imply <a href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis" title="Constrictive pericarditis">constrictive pericarditis</a> and may be an asymptomatic incidental finding. However, other features of constrictive cardiac failure such as pleural effusion(s), retrograde flow of contrast into a dilated IVC and leftward deviation of the interventricular septum should be evaluated for.</p><p>The normal pericardial thickness on the CT scan should be less than 2 mm<sup>[1]</sup></p>- +<p><a href="/articles/pericardial-calcification" title="Pericardial calcification">Pericardial calcification</a> may occur secondary to a wide variety of inflammatory insults ranging from viral infections, uraemia, and pericarditis, which usually result in a more thin, eggshell pattern of calcification, to more aggressive inflammatory conditions such as TB, in which thick, confluent, and irregular calcification may be seen.</p><p>The presence of pericardial calcification itself does not imply <a href="/articles/constrictive-pericarditis" title="Constrictive pericarditis">constrictive pericarditis</a> and may be an asymptomatic incidental finding. However, other features of constrictive cardiac failure such as pleural effusion(s), retrograde flow of contrast into a dilated IVC, and leftward deviation of the interventricular septum should be evaluated.</p><p>The normal pericardial thickness on the CT scan should be less than 2 mm<sup> 1</sup>.</p>
References changed:
- 1. Bull R, Edwards P, Dixon A. CT Dimensions of the Normal Pericardium. Br J Radiol. 1998;71(849):923-5. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.71.849.10195005">doi:10.1259/bjr.71.849.10195005</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10195005">Pubmed</a>
- [1] Bull RK, Edwards PD, Dixon AK. CT dimensions of the normal pericardium. Br J Radiol. 1998 Sep;71(849):923-5.
Updates to Study Attributes
There is irregular, thick, and extensive calcification involving the anterior, left, and infero-basal portions of the pericardium.
This is a non-contrast study. There is no pleural effusion seen,; however, the proximal most-most part of the inferior vena cava just before it drains into the right atrium is dilated, which is suggestive of retrograde flow due to pericardial constriction.