title: Incidental findings of pericardial calcification.
abstract: Calcification of the pericardium is a relatively rare finding and often has an uncertain etiology. Incidental findings of pericardial calcification may increase due to widespread application of cardiac computed tomography for the assessment of coronary atherosclerosis in the appropriate clinical setting using coronary artery calcium scoring and/or coronary angiography. Pericardial calcification alone is asymptomatic and is neither necessary nor sufficient for the diagnosis of pericardial constriction. Its presence may suggest of diffused pericardial scarring and consequently, its pathological involvement with pericardial constriction. Calcification of the pericardium must be evaluated with full clinical knowledge to facilitate an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate therapy when required. Our objective is to present a case of asymptomatic pericardial calcification and to discuss the importance of its clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Tin Nguyen, Charles Phillips, Assad Movahed, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Heart Institute, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Tin Nguyen, Charles Phillips, Assad Movahed, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Heart Institute, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Tin Nguyen, Charles Phillips, Assad Movahed, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Heart Institute, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
authors.forename: Assad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movahed
keywords: Cardiac computed tomography; Constrictive pericarditis; Pericardial calcification