Transient enhancement of pericardium, peritoneum, soft tissues and perhaps lymphatics after large doses of contrast administration: an overlooked phenomenon?

An infant with complex cyanotic congenital heart disease was recently encountered whose radiographs seemed to show enhancement of pericardium, peritoneal mesothelium and body wall fascial planes without enhancement of the liver or spleen after very large doses of intravenous contrast. Although patterns of postcontrast enhancement have been described previously, this pattern seems to be unique. We report the unusual postcontrast opacification pattern and speculate about its underlying mechanism.