Key result
An incidentally discovered 4.7 cm x 2.5 cm pericardial cyst completely resolved spontaneously over approximately four years without any specific medical or surgical therapy.
Why the study?
The natural history and spontaneous resolution of pericardial cysts detected incidentally during imaging are not well characterized.
Case Report (n=1)
This case demonstrates that pericardial cysts can occasionally resolve spontaneously without the need for medical or surgical intervention.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Incidental asymptomatic pericardial cysts on lung screening CT may remain stable; leaves open standardized surveillance protocols.
The above images are computed tomography (CT) of chest views revealing a pericardial cyst (red arrows) in the axial (Fig A) and coronal (Fig B) planes, measuring approximately 4.7 cm x 2.5 cm in the axial plane. The finding was incidental; there were no symptoms reported related to the pericardial cyst, and CT of the chest scans were being performed annually as part of lung cancer screening due to a history of heavy tobacco use. Approximately four years later the CT scans of the chest did not reveal the pericardial cyst on subsequent studies; as shown (green arrows) in the axial (Fig C) and coronal (Fig D) planes. The resolution of the pericardial cyst was spontaneous as no specific medical or surgical therapy was performed.
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Sayaideh et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Pericardial cyst (n=1). Spontaneous observation was evaluated on Resolution of the pericardial cyst. An incidentally discovered 4.7 cm x 2.5 cm pericardial cyst completely resolved spontaneously over approximately four years without any specific medical or surgical therapy.
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