MRI of the Pericardium: What do we have to know? What do we have to look for?

Congress:

ESCR 2015

Poster Number:

P-0038

Type:

Scientific Poster

Keywords:

Anatomy, Cardiac, MR-Functional imaging, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, Education, Cysts, Congenital, Pathology

Authors:

C. Saborido Avila, M. Rodríguez Álvarez, A. M. Afonso Centeno, B. Nieto Baltar, S. Barreiro Villalustre; VIGO/ES

DOI:

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/

Fig. 1: a) The pericardium is formed by two layers, the fibrous outer layer and the...

Fig. 3: Long axis of the left ventricle, viability sequence, after IV gadolinium...

Fig. 4

Fig. 5: STIR, axial . The arrow shows the superior aortic recess

Purpose

1- Embryological and anatomical remember 2- Sequences and suitableplanes for MR study 3- Pathology

Methods and Materials

The most common reaction of the pericardium against any aggression is the fluid production. Other more infrequent reactions are thickening of their layers, calcification, nodules or masses. 1.- ANATOMY Fig.1 The pericardium is an anatomically simple structure that can be affected by multiple processes. - The outer layer it is fibrous pericardium, hard and fibrous, that binds to the adyacent structures that anchor the heart: Joins the central tendon of the diaphragm by the pericardiophrenic ligament. Fig. 2 On the front face it is inserted...

Results

CT and MR imaging should be used when findings at echocardiography are difficult to interpret or conflict with clinical findings. Infection, neoplasm, injury, and congenital disease all may affect the pericardium. Although echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used to examine the pericardium, CT and MR imaging provide various advantages, especially in cases of loculated or hemorrhagic effusion, constrictive pericarditis, and pericardial masses.

Conclusion

It is mandatory for the radiologist to know the normal anatomy,variants and the pathologic processes that may affect the pericardium and the MR protocols used to accurately study the pericardium. MRI can study the whole pericardium to show its morphology and approximate its histology by evaluation of the signal intensity. MRI offers a correct assessment of pericardial effusion,distribution, presence of loculations and content. MRI offers a functional assessment of the impact of the pericardial disease MRI is essential in cases the echocardiographic information is insufficient,...

References

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