Absence of the left pericardium diagnosed by computed tomography

Bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia with absent pleura and pericardium

“…In an autopsy series of stillborn fetuses with CDH as well as an experimental animal model with CDH and congenital heart disease, pericardial agenesis was not seen in association with the intracardiac lesions (Migliazza et al, 1999). Similarly, patients reported with pericardial defects do not seem predisposed to other cardiac lesions (Candan et al, 1986; Jacob et al, 1995; Raman et al, 2001; Ratib et al, 2001; Aggarwal and Battle, 2002; Faridah and Julsrud, 2002; Victor et al, 2003; Messner et al, 2004). Functional cardiac lesions such as tricuspid insufficiency, which have been reported with pericardial defects, are more often the result of an extrinsic dynamic phenomenon created by the pericardial defect as opposed to a structural intrinsic lesion (Chatzis et al, 2004; Goetz et al, 2004).…”

Partial Pericardial Defect in an Asymptomatic Patient and Brief Review of Literature

“…16 Although radiographs may show evidence of this condition, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained with CT or MR imaging. 17,18,19 Excessive myocardial displacement and a large difference in total heart volume in the end-systolic and end-diastolic phases on functional MRI have been proposed for diagnosis of congenital absence of pericardium. 20 Complications of congenital pericardial defect may include herniation and entrapment of a cardiac chamber, especially the left atrial appendage.…”