title: Prevalence of "high-riding" superior pericardial recesses on thin-section 16-MDCT scans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of "high-riding" superior pericardial recess (HRSPR) on thin-section (1 mm) 16-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and fourteen consecutive chest CT scans obtained with a thin-section 16 MDCT were retrospectively evaluated. The prevalence and characteristic of HRSPR were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRSPR was depicted in 21 patients (11 men and 10 women) (6.6%) who ranged in age from 28 to 72 years (mean age, 57 years). The extended recesses were rounded/oval shaped in five patients and triangular, spindle, half moon or irregular shaped in the other 16 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest as HRSPRs are more frequently and better depicted on thinsection MDCT scans, and this improves the capability to distinguish this superior extension of the superior aortic recess from abnormal findings such as lymphadenopathy, cystic lesions, and aortic dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Interventional Radiology, Ospedale Ferrarotto, via Citelli, 8 95124 Catania, Italy. antodoc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bisceglie
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giulietti
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calcara
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figuera
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mundo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Runza
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Privitera
authors.forename: Giambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Privitera
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Patti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed