title: CT and MR evaluation of pericardial constriction: a new diagnostic and therapeutic concept.
abstract: Eighty patients with pericardial constriction confirmed by catheter data were studied by CT (n = 79), MR imaging (n = 24), or both. To determine the validity of these imaging methods for subsequent treatment, 30 patients' studies were evaluated retrospectively (1980-1984) and 50 (1985-1991) prospectively. Twenty patients from the first group and 30 patients from the second group underwent pericardiectomy. By systematic analysis of CT scans and MR images it was possible to characterize the morphology of pericardial constriction (n = 80); to identify global (n = 27), right-sided (n = 46), left-sided (n = 2), annular (n = 2), effusive (n = 2), and epicardial (n = 1) forms of pericardial constriction; and to define parameters of myocardial atrophy and fibrosis (n = 17). Seventeen patients had myocardial atrophy, fibrosis, or both. Seven of them underwent pericardiectomy; all died of acute myocardial failure (100%). Four (9.3%) of 43 patients without myocardial atrophy or fibrosis died as a consequence of other complications. The method of thoracotomy and periepicardiectomy was continuously adjusted to the preoperative CT and MR findings. Thus, the clinical use of CT and MR imaging in patients with known or suspected pericardial constriction is based on (a) exclusion of patients with restrictive hemodynamics from diagnostic thoracotomy, (b) preoperative determination of the method of thoracotomy and extent of pericardiectomy, and (c) exclusion of patients with myocardial atrophy or fibrosis from pericardiectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reinmüller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gürgan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kemkes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weinhold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology