Functional MRI of congenital absence of the pericardium

Congenital absence of the pericardium is a rare anomaly. The prevalence, including cases with other cardiopulmonary anomalies, is approximately 0.002-0.004% of surgical and pathologic series [1]. The defects are on the left side of the heart in most cases but can be located anywhere in the pericardium. Absence of the pericardium is classified as complete or partial. Complete defects are of little clinical importance. A subgroup of partial defects, however, the so-called foramentype defects, can be fatal when they allow herniation of a part of the myocardium while some of the pericardium stays intact. The diagnosis of congenital absence of the pericardium usually can be established with visualization of the morphologic characteristics on CT or MRI [1-5]. We describe the case of a patient with congenital absence of the pericardium, and we suggest two functional MRI findings that may be helpful criteria to support the diagnosis. © American Roentgen Ray Society.