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The pericardium (pl.: pericardia), also called pericardial sac, is a double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels. [1] It has two layers, an outer layer made of strong inelastic connective tissue ( fibrous pericardium ), and an inner layer made of serous membrane ( serous pericardium ).
Water Bottle Heart is a descriptive term used in radiology to describe the appearance of the cardiac silhouette on a chest X-ray when it resembles the shape of a water bottle. This sign is associated with pericardial effusion , a medical condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity surrounding the heart.
The definitive treatment for constrictive pericarditis is pericardial stripping, which is a surgical procedure where the entire pericardium is peeled away from the heart. This procedure has significant risk involved, [ 14 ] with mortality rates of 6% or higher in major referral centers.
Cardiac CT and MRI scans: cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography (CT) can help localize and quantify the effusion, especially in a loculated effusion (an effusion contained to one area). [12] CT imaging also helps assess for pericardial pathology (pericardial thickening, constrictive pericarditis, malignancy-associated pericarditis). [1]
Figure A shows the location of the heart and a normal heart and pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart). The inset image is an enlarged cross-section of the pericardium that shows its two layers of tissue and the fluid between the layers. Figure B shows the heart with pericarditis.
Purulent Pericarditis; Echocardiogram showing pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade: Specialty: Cardiology: Symptoms: substernal chest pain (exacerbated supine and with breathing deeply), dyspnea, fever, rigors/chills, and cardiorespiratory signs (i.e., tachycardia, friction rub, pulsus paradoxus, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusion)
Cardiac CT (CCT) is a modified form of the traditional chest CT due to the difficulty of imaging the complex, moving heart. [16] This is achieved through the use of thin slices and high-resolution scanning, as well as the addition of electrocardiogram (ECG) gating or triggering to capture a motion-free image.
Radiography is another method used to aid in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis. This imaging can help identify effusions, calcifications, and thickening around the heart. [4] Echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for diagnosis of pericarditis. [4] Chest X-Ray, CT scans, and MRI are also widely used options. [4]