Dextrocardia with situs inversus

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Dextrocardia with situs inversus

  • Note the right side marker (R)
  • This patient has dextrocardia - the heart is on the right hand side
  • The stomach bubble is also on the right - in fact all the abdominal viscera are on the wrong side in this patient - an anatomical anomaly known as situs inversus
  • On clinical examination the apex beat was found on the RIGHT - confirming dextrocardia

Pseudo-dextrocardia

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Pseudo-dextrocardia

  • This looks similar to the previous X-ray of dextrocardia, but the radiographer had accidentally flipped the digital image and labelled it incorrectly
  • On clinical examination the apex beat was found in its normal position on the LEFT
  • If you think an X-ray is labelled incorrectly then make sure you inform the X-ray Department - labelling errors are more common than dextrocardia
  • To diagnose dextrocardia - examine the patient!

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019