CT-GUIDED PERICARDIAL DRAINAGE CATHETER PLACEMENT WITH SUBSEQUENT PERICARDIAL SCLEROSIS

Percutaneous drainage of malignant pericardial effusion is an establis hed alternative to surgical pericardiotomy and pericardiectomy. We rep ort the placement of a pericardial drainage catheter under CT guidance , with subsequent pericardial sclerosis. Previously described imaging modalities (fluoroscopy and ultrasound) used for the guidance of drain placement are compared and contrasted with our use of CT.