title: Pseudopericardial effusions in heart transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the nature of sonographically observed band-shaped, homogeneous, almost echo-free structures located ventral to the right ventricle of the heart in heart transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 212 consecutive heart transplant recipients was evaluated sonographically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 18 of the 212 patients (8.5%) band-shaped structures were detected, and these structures were proved with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to be caused by mediastinal fat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A sonographically demonstrable, almost echo-free band-shaped structure located ventral to the heart should not be misinterpreted as localized pericardial effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dorffner
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Eibenberger
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Dock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hörmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buxbaum
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grabenwöger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography