Cardiac tamponade is a clinical diagnosis that is usually confirmed with echocardiography. However, there are some CT findings which can suggest this diagnosis. This patient had both clinical and CT findings consistent with pericardial tamponade. The right upper lobe mass was confirmed to be non-small cell lung cancer.

Some of the reported findings on CT include:

• enlargement of the SVC (diameter similar to or greater than that of the thoracic aorta)
• enlargement of the IVC (diameter greater than twice that of the adjacent abdominal aorta)
• periportal edema
• reflux of contrast material within the IVC or azygos vein
• enlargement of hepatic and renal veins
• flattening or inversion of the right atrial or RV wall
• inversion of the interventricular septum