title: [Pericardial liquid layer as an occasional finding in internal echography. Normal patterns and pathologic limits].
abstract: A small amount of fluid in the pericardial sac is often observed incidentally during upper abdomen US studies. In order to assess the normality range for this finding, 500 patients undergoing liver US were evaluated for the presence of pericardial fluid, the thickness of which was subsequently measured in positive cases. In a group of 20 patients with pericardial fluid thickness ranging 5-9 mm and in 6 cases with pericardial effusion greater than 10 mm, cardiologic evaluation was performed (clinical examination, ECG, echocardiography). Pericardial fluid was quite a common finding (20.8%) which had no clinical relevance when less than 10 mm. On the contrary, its clinical relevance was high when greater than 10 mm, and extending around the heart.
authors.affiliation: II Servizio Radiologico, Ospedale Civile, Padova.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulzacchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corbetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Budano
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Falda liquida pericardica come riscontro occasionale nell'ecografia internistica. Quadri normali e limiti con il patologico.