May 13, 2025
Purpose of the Study
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of pericardial calcification in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to compare findings with individuals without CF or with other respiratory conditions. It also examined clinical variables associated with calcification in the CF population.
How the Study Was Done
Researchers conducted a retrospective, single-center case-control study involving 348 adult patients with CF who underwent chest CT between January 2021 and December 2022. Three control groups were included: individuals without CF, individuals with prior tuberculosis infection, and patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. The presence, distribution, and severity of pericardial calcification were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively, and statistical tests were used to assess associations with clinical variables.
Key Findings
Pericardial calcification was observed in 18% of patients with CF, significantly more than in all control groups (1–4%). The calcifications were often multifocal and either developed de novo or progressed over time. Factors associated with its presence in CF patients included older age, reduced lung function, higher vitamin D levels, and Burkholderia cenocepacia ET12 infection. These findings suggest a unique pattern of pericardial involvement in CF, previously underrecognized in clinical imaging.
Who Performed the Study
The study was led by senior author Dr. Matias F. Callejas, and by Dr. Djeven Deva (division head) from Toronto Radiology and the Cardiothoracic Imaging division at St. Michael’s Hospital. It was authored by Sara Rodriguez-Takeuchi, Elizabeth Tullis, Ali Babaei Jandaghi, Andrew T. Yan, Errol Colak, David A. Hall, Kathy C. K. Wong, Laura Jiménez-Juan, Kieran McIntyre, Jenna Sykes, Djeven P. Deva, and Matias F. Callejas. It was published in Radiology.
Link to Publication:
https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.241793
