An Unusual Cause of Right Heart Failure: Hemorrhagic Pericardial Cyst Presenting as a Pericardial Mass and Constrictive Pericarditis

Abstract

Congenital pericardial cysts are very rare neoplasms of the middle mediastinum. We report a case of a young woman who was referred to the surgical department with abdominal pain. The ultrasound done showed moderate ascites and pleural effusion. Further evaluation with computed tomography (CT) chest revealed a calcified mass in the pericardium. Follow-up echocardiography showed an echogenic mass in the pericardium. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a hyperintense mass with a delayed enhancement of the contents with features of right heart failure. So, an emergency surgical resection was done that showed a large hemorrhagic mass with pultaceous material in the pericardial cavity. The pathological report confirmed the diagnosis of a hemorrhagic pericardial cyst with organized material.

Keywords

• cardiac mri
• hemorrhagic pericardial mass
• pericardial cyst