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Pneumopericardium
Etiology: barotrauma
Imaging: air in pericardial space which does not rise above great vessels, continuous diaphragm sign, subset of pneumomediastinum
Clinical: can cause compromise of venous return -> cardiac tamponade -> death
Cases of Pneumopericardium
CXR AP shows air outlining the heart in the pericardial space, air outlining the thymus in the mediastinum, and air in the bilateral pleural spaces.CXR AP (above) shows a large amount of air around the heart. CXR AP obtained after pericardiocentesis (below) shows a decreased amount of air around the heart and the diaphragm can be continuously traced across the image.