title: Does echocardiography play a role in the clinical diagnosis of congenital absence of pericardium? A case presentation and a systematic review.
abstract: Congenital absence of pericardium is an uncommon cardiac defect with variable clinical presentations. The detection of this malformation is clinically relevant because of potential complications such as fatal myocardial strangulation, myocardial ischemia and sudden death. Physical examination, chest radiograph and ECG are not helpful for the diagnosis. Echocardiography may accurately identify abnormalities in myocardial wall motion and in cardiac silhouette that may strongly suggest the diagnosis that is confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scan. A case presentation and a review of the literature with emphasis on the role of echocardiography are presented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Fondazione IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centola
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cremonesi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Gian B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Danzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001782:Blood Donors; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed