COMPLETE ABSENCE OF THE LEFT PERICARDIUM

Abstract

Pericardial defect is a rare congenital abnormality, and most of the presenting cases are reported from intraoperative or post-mortem diagnosis. We report a case (46 yr-old male) with a 2-year history of vague chest pain and dry cough.<br />Chest roentgenography showed a mass in the supero-medial portion of the left lung without displacement of the heart. Computerized tomography supported the diagnosis of a cystic mass in the medial part at the lingual lobe of the left lung. Echocardiography was normal.<br />He was operated for symptomatic pulmonary mass and intraoperative findings were complete absence of the left pericardium and a bronchogenic cyst of the lingual.