Postmortem computed tomographic (PMCT) findings of pericardial effusion due to acute aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the appearance of pericardial effusion in deceased acute aortic dissection patients using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).


METHODS
PMCT examinations were performed within 2 hours of death in 30 patients with pericardial effusion due to aortic dissection who arrived at our hospital in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest.


RESULTS
Pericardial effusion in 18 of 30 patients (60%) showed double concentric rings on PMCT with striking differences in density, a low-density outer ring along the pericardium and a high-density inner ring on the epicardial surface (hyperdense armored heart). Pericardial effusion in two patients (7%) showed a high-density fluid level (hypostasis). Pericardial effusion in the remaining 10 patients (33%) showed no such stratification.


CONCLUSIONS
A "hyperdense armored heart" is the most frequently seen PMCT finding in deceased cases of pericardial effusion due to acute aortic dissection.
Shiotani
Seiji
S
Departments of Radiology, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.
Watanabe
Ko
K
Kohno
Mototsugu
M
Ohashi
Noriyoshi
N
Yamazaki
Kentaro
K
Nakayama
Hidetsugu
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications*; D002102:Cadaver; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed