Cardiomegaly - Mild

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Cardiomegaly - Mild

  • Good quality Posterior-Anterior chest X-ray with no rotation (the spinous processes are at the mid point between the medial ends of the clavicles) - this allows the heart size to be assessed accurately
  • CTR (Cardio-Thoracic Ratio = cardiac width/thoracic width) is frequently expressed as a percentage
  • In this image CTR = 53%
  • There are no other signs of heart failure

Cardiomegaly

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Cardiomegaly

  • History of hypertension and angina
  • This patient has an enlarged heart
  • CTR = 68%

Left atrial enlargement

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Left atrial enlargement

  • This image shows massive cardiomegaly (CTR=79%) in a patient with a metallic mitral valve replacement
  • Occasionally signs of enlargement of specific heart chambers may be visible
  • This image shows specific features indicating massive enlargement of the left atrium (highlighted area)
  • 1 - Carina splayed to >90°
  • 2 - Double right heart border
  • 3 - Left atrial appendage bulging the left heart border

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

Last reviewed: October 2019