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Anatomic Pitfalls of the Heart and Pericardium¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, E3/311 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792. Presented as an education exhibit at the 2003 RSNA Scientific Assembly. Received April 14, 2004; revision requested June 8 and received August 3; accepted August 5. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to L.S.B. (e-mail: ls.broderick{at}hosp.wisc.edu).

Recent technologic advances have led to more frequent dedicated cross-sectional imaging of the heart. Faster scanning techniques, cardiac gating, and advanced postprocessing software allow improved visualization of finer anatomic details of the heart and pericardium compared with older techniques and software. Use of thin-section computed tomography (CT) or image reformatting in nonaxial planes may be helpful in some cases. The cardiac and pericardial structures are usually readily demonstrated with CT, even if chest CT is performed for evaluation of noncardiac structures. However, radiologists are expected to evaluate all structures on an image, and incidental findings are common. Radiologists must first be familiar with the normal anatomic structures of the heart and pericardium (eg, atria, ventricles, cardiac valves, pericardial recesses, paracardiac structures) to avoid mistaking them for pathologic processes.

© RSNA, 2005

Abbreviations: IVC = inferior vena cava, LHIS = lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum, SVC = superior vena cava

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