Presentation
Car accident
Patient Data
Age: 55 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Prominent pericardial recess on trauma CT
{"current_user":null,"step_through_annotations":true,"access":{"can_edit":false,"can_download":true,"can_toggle_annotations":true,"can_feature":false,"can_examine_pipeline_reports":false,"can_pin":false},"extraPropsURL":"/studies/61996/annotated_viewer_json?iframe=true\u0026lang=us"}
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.