Evaluation of pericardial sinuses and recesses with 2-, 4-, 16-, and 64-row multidetector CT

Purpose. The aim of this study was to describe visualisation rate and appearance of all pericardial sinuses and recesses and to evaluate whether there is a significant difference between visualisation of these sinuses and recesses on 2-, 4-, 16- and 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Materials and methods. We retrospectively analysed 588 MDCT scans of the chest obtained with a protocol for pulmonary embolism. Results. The visualisation rate of any pericardial recess was 85.2%. The rates on 2-, 4-, 16- and 64-slice MDCT were 74.7%, 90.6%, 90.3% and 88.7%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in visualisation rates of pericardial recesses between 2-slice MDCT and other MDCT systems (p<0.01). Age, and 4-, 16- and 64-slice MDCT versus 2-slice MDCT and the presence of pleural effusion appeared as significant predictors of the presence of any recess. Conclusions. Visualisation rates of pericardial recesses are higher with 4-, 16- and 64-slice MDCT than with 2-slice MDCT. Therefore, radiologists need to be familiar with the different appearances of pericardial recesses on MDCT to avoid misdiagnosis.