Mc. Baque-juston et al., Pericardial thickening or effusion in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension: A CT study, AM J ROENTG, 172(2), 1999, pp. 361-364
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
OBJECTIVE, The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of pericard
ial thickening or effusion revealed by CT in patients with pulmonary artery
hypertension.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-five patients underwent pulmonary artery cathe
terization and CT of the thorax. On CT, we measured the maximum pericardial
thickness, total pericardial score (the sum of four measures of pericardia
l thickness), and thickness of the anterior pericardial recess. Patients we
re grouped according to mean pulmonary artery pressure: group 1, less than
21 mm Hg (n = 15); group 2, 21-35 mm Hg (n = 15)1 and group 3, greater than
35 mm Hg (n = 15),
RESULTS. The prevalence of an increased pericardial score and increased max
imum pericardial thickening was higher in group 3 than in group 1 or group
2 (p =.02 and <.001, respectively). Anterior pericardial recess thickening
was markedly increased in group 3(p<.0001). For all patients, significant c
orrelations (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient =.44-.56, p <.005-.000
1) were found between mean pulmonary artery pressure and all pericardial me
asures.
CONCLUSION. On CT, pericardial thickening or effusion is a frequent finding
in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.