Prominent pericardial recess on trauma CT

Case contributed by Andrew Dixon
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Car accident

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male

Prominent fluid within the superior aortic pericardial recess. This is normal variant and important to distinguish in the setting of chest trauma from a periaortic/mediastinal hematoma. This patient does not have an aortic injury. Subtle hepatic segment 4 liver laceration is present. 

Case Discussion

Prominent superior aortic pericardial recess (normal variant).  It is important to distinguish this in the setting of chest trauma from a periaortic/mediastinal hematoma which will be higher in density and more ill-defined. While this patient has no injury in the chest, there is a subtle liver laceration. 

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