The cardiophrenic space is usually filled with fat. However, lesions originating above or lower to the diaphragm can present as cardiophrenic angle lesions.
The more common lesions encountered include:
- pericardial fat pad
- pericardial cyst
- pericardial fat necrosis
- Morgagni's hernia
- lymphadenopathy: metastasis, lymphoma, reactional
- pericardial lipomatosis
- neurogenic tumor 3
Other less common lesions include:
- thymoma
- right middle lobe collapse
- right middle lobe consolidation
- impending cardiac volvulus: an abnormal bulging can be seen at the cardiophrenic angle, preceding cardiac volvulus
- fibrous tumor of the pleura
- hydatid cyst
- varices and dilated pericardiacophrenic veins 1