The Value Of Anterosuperior Pericardial Recess Dilatation In CT Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Embolism

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the value of anterosuperior perica rdial recess dilatation in pulmonary embolism.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A-P(anteroposterior) dimensions of anterosuperior pericardial recess was compared between the pulmonary embolism group(38 cases) and the control group(45 cases) by the spiral CT . The A-P dimensions of anterosuperior pericardial recess with a diameter greater than 10 mm were considered to be obviously dilated. The cases of obvious anterosuperior pericardial recess dilatation in these two groups were analyzed. 38 cases of pulmonary embolism were divided into the central group and the peripheral group. The same methods were applied to find out whether there was significant difference between the central group and the peripheral group s.RESULTS. The A-P diameter of anterosuperior pericardial recess in the group with pulmonary embolism was significantly larger than the diameter in the control group (P < 0.01). Statistically significant difference was also found between central group and peripheral group (P < 0.05 ) .Among the pulmonary embolism group and the control group, the A-P diameters of anterosuperior pericardial recess greater than 10 mm was observed in 24 cases and 5 cases respectively. The difference of two groups showed highly statistical significance difference (x~2= 24.55, P < 0.01) .And among the 24 cases of obvious anterosuperior pericardial recess dilatation in the group with pulmonary embolism, 19 cases were in central group and 5 cases were in peripheral group. The difference was statistically significant (x~2 = 15.05, P < 0.01).Conclusion On CT, the diameter of anterosuperior pericardial recess obviously increased in patients with pulmonary embolism, and it was related to the position ofembolus. The dilatation of anterosuperior pericardial recess was possibly a valuablesign for the suspected patients with pulmonary embolism.