CONGENITAL PERICARDIAL DEFECTS WITH HERNIATION OF THE HEART INTO THE PLEURAL SPACE

Abstract

A congenital defect in the pericardium with subsequent herniation of part or all of the heart into the pleural space is an unusual anomaly, the precise incidence of which is not known. A reported incidence of 3% at autopsy suggests that the lesion occurs more frequently than is generally suspected. It may be associated with serious complications and even death and so should be suspected in any patient with unusual shadows near the cardiac borders. Properly performed selective angiography will demonstrate this lesion in the majority of patients. If significant signs or symptoms are associated with it, surgical repair is recommended.