Differentiating pericardial recesses from mediastinal adenopathy: potential pitfalls in oncological imaging

Girish S Shroff; Piyaporn Boonsirikamchai; Chitra Viswanathan; Myrna C B Godoy; Edith M Marom; Mylene T Truong

doi:10.1016/j.crad.2013.10.007

Differentiating pericardial recesses from mediastinal adenopathy: potential pitfalls in oncological imaging

Clin Radiol. 2014 Mar;69(3):307-14. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2013.10.007. Epub 2013 Nov 28.

Authors

Girish S Shroff¹, Piyaporn Boonsirikamchai², Chitra Viswanathan², Myrna C B Godoy², Edith M Marom², Mylene T Truong²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

PMID: 24290055
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2013.10.007

Abstract

In oncological imaging, staging with computed tomography (CT) is widely used to determine treatment. Misinterpretation of fluid in pericardial recesses as mediastinal adenopathy can lead to inaccurate clinical staging and inappropriate management. In this review, we describe normal pericardial anatomy and illustrate imaging features to differentiate fluid in pericardial sinuses and recesses from mediastinal adenopathy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Contrast Media
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Lymphatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
Lymphatic Diseases / pathology
Mediastinum / diagnostic imaging*
Mediastinum / pathology
Neoplasms / pathology*
Pericardial Effusion / diagnostic imaging*
Pericardial Effusion / pathology
Pericardium / diagnostic imaging*
Pericardium / pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

Contrast Media