CONTRIBUTION OF CARDIAC IMAGING (CT AND MRI) IN THEDIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS: A SERIES OF 76 CASES

Background:Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is an uncommon disease that is usually difficult to diagnose. Transthoracic echocardiography can sometimes fail to establish its diagnosis. The aim of our study is to prove that both Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offer distinct advantages to confirm the diagnosis of CP and make therapeutic decisions for patients with this condition. Methods:Data of 76 patients who underwent MRI for a suspicion of CP from January 2009 to October 2021 were reviewed retrospectively Results:MRI and CT scan confirmed the diagnosis showing pericardial thickening in all cases, measuring 7.6 ± 3.2 mm on average circumferential in 62,7 %, and localized in 37,3 %, pericardial calcification in 50 % of cases and inferior vena cava plethora in all cases. An abnormal septal motion was found in all patients. Imaging data namely pericardial thickening, calcifications, as well as their topography, were confirmed by surgical exploration, and the results were consistent in 100% of cases. Conclusion:Although cardiac CT and CMR are recommended as second-line tests in the diagnostic workup of constrictive pericarditis, they offer distinct advantages to not only confirm the diagnosis but also make therapeutic decisions for patients with this condition. Nowadays, many studies prove that a modern approach for the management of pericardial diseases should include the use of different imaging modalities.