Background: pericardial diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases. CT and MRI are more than adjuncts to echocardiography in pericardial diseases assessment, as they provide an excellent pericardial anatomy delineation and precise pericardial lesions evaluation including; effusion, constrictive pericarditis, thickening, masses and congenital anomalies. Ideal management needs the proper imaging modality choosing ability. Aim of the Study: this study aimed to evaluate the role of CT and MRI versus echocardiography in the diagnosis of pericardial diseases and to show the limitations of each modality.
Conclusion: tissue characterization with CMR is superior to cardiac CT and echocardiography. CMR can differentiate tumor from thrombus and is often helpful to assess the perfusion of a pericardial mass with the use of gadolinium contrast. The final diagnosis depends on typical pathologic features.