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Pericardial Cyst
- Fluid-filled cysts of the parietal pericardium consisting of a single layer of mesothelial cells
- Usually discover at age 30-40 years, predominantly in males (3:2)
- Most are asymptomatic and incidental findings
- Atypical chest pain can occur
- They are usually (75%) located at the cardiophrenic angle almost always on the right (3:1)
- DDX of a right cardiophrenic angle mass
- Pericardial cyst
- Sequestration
- Foramen of Morgagni hernia
- They can occur higher and may extend into major fissure
- Classically they are soft and can be flattened on the edge that faces the fissure
- They rarely occur in the mediastinum
- Imaging findings
- Sharply marginated
- Round or oval mass
- From 3-8 cm in size usually
- They can change in size and shape with respiration or body position
- Rarely calcify
- On CT, their attenuation values of 20-40 HU, occasionally higher
![Pericardial Cyst](../../caseofweek/caseoftheweekpix2006/cow196lg.jpg)
Pericardial Cyst. Frontal and lateral views of the chest demonstrate a mass at the right cardiophrenic angle with rim-like calcification that indicates the calcification has formed in the wall of a hollow viscus. This is a characteristic location for a pericardial cyst, which is calcified in this case.
![Pericardial Cyst](../../images/chestimages1/pericardial cyst-ann.jpg)
Pericardial Cyst. Frontal view of the chest demonstrates a mass at the right cardiophrenic angle (black arrow) with smooth margins. The mass appears to abut the heart. A CT scan at a similar location shows a large, fluid-filled cystic structure (white arrow) The red arrow points to the heart.
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