Pericardial recesses

The pericardial recesses are small spaces in the pericardial cavity arising from the transverse pericardial sinus that are formed by the reflections of the pericardium. Pericardial fluid can pool in these recesses, mimicking mediastinal lymph nodes or pathology. There are several pericardial recesses that may be mistaken for dissection or lymphadenopathy:

• aortic recesses
  • ​superior aortic recess
  • inferior aortic recess
• pulmonic recesses
  • right pulmonic recess
  • left pulmonic recess
• postcaval recess
• pulmonary venous recesses
  • right pulmonary venous recess
  • left pulmonary venous recess