Demonstration of unsuspected malignant disease of the pericardium by computed tomography.
Massive pericardial effusion associated with mediastinal neoplasm was first diagnosed by findings at computed tomography (CT) in two patients. In each case the CT findings prompted urgent pericardiocentesis for relief of pericardial tamponade. One of the patients was subsequently found to have a widely disseminated renal papillary adenocarcinoma, and the other had fibrosarcomatous mesothelioma of the pericardium. The role of CT in the diagnosis of pericardial disease is discussed.
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed