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European Heart Journal 1983 4(4):238-246;
Copyright © 1983 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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© 1983 The European Society of Cardiology

Value of two-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of pericardial cysts

A. PEZZANO*,, A. BELLONI{dagger}, F. FALETRA*, G. BINAGHI{ddagger}, A. COLLI* and F. ROVELLI*

*Divisione Cardiologica, Ente Ospedaliero Niguarda Milano
{dagger}Divisione di Cardiochirurgia ‘De Gasperis’, Ente Ospedaliero Niguarda Milano
{ddagger}Divisione Cardiologica Ospedale Regionale Varese, Italy

Received 16 October 1981; revised 15 April 1982; .

Requests for reprints to: Dr Antonio Pezzano, Divisione Cardiologica ‘De Gasperis’, Entc Ospedaliero Niguarda, 20162 Milano. Italy.

Abstract

Four adult patients with pericardial cysts were studied by two-dimensional echocardiography. In all cases echocardiography demonstrated a round echo-free structure, of varying size, related to one of the cardiac chambers, from which it was separated by a definite wall of echoes. M-mode echocardiography in the three cases in which it was performed, failed to yield the diagnosis.

This report assesses the importance of two-dimensional echocardiography and its greater reliability and sensitivity compared with:

(1) M-mode echo in identifying pericardial tumors and establishing their relationships to nearby cardiac structures, and

(2) standard chest X-ray in differentiating solid masses from cysts and in defining the characteristics of cysts walls.

Particular stress is laid on the role of two-dimensional echo cardiography leading directly to surgery in patient number 4, who had a teratoma and in whom early surgery was essential.

The high sensitivity and the ability of the technique to differentiate solid from cystic masses and to define their relationships with cardiac chambers make it a reliable method for assessing pericardial cysts.

Key Words: Pericardial cysts • two-dimensional echocardiography


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