Recognizing Cardiomegally

Question 1

Extracardiac causes of cardiomegally?

Answer 1

Most common- portable AP supine chest radiograph
Combination of poor inspiration, rotation, magnification
Conditions that inhibit deep inspiration like : obesity, pregnancy, massive ascites
Chest wall abnormalities: straight back syndrome, pectus excavatum deformity,
Rotation of pt to the left
Pericardial effusion

Question 2

Identifying cardiac enlargement on an AP chest radiograph

Answer 2

If the :
Left heart border is touching the left lateral chest wall ………… Enlarged
Left heart border is very close to the left chest wall…..probably enlarged
Heart is borderline enlarged on portable AP film…. Normal

Question 3

Effect of degree of inspiration on heart size

Answer 3

In expiration the diaphragm moves upward and compresses the heart -> appears larger

Question 4

CTR in infants is normal up to?

Answer 4

65%

Question 5

The normal thymus gland may be seen on xray up to … years old and sometimes as late as …years old

Answer 5

3yo

8yo

Question 6

CTR measured using?

Answer 6

The widest transverse diameter of the heart and

Widest internal diameter of the rib