Radiology Of The Heart

Abstract

In spite of the universal availability of radiological facilities this simple investigation has been rather underutilised in assessment of cardiac diseases.The Technique: of the chest X-Ray does not differ from that employed in evaluation of pulmonary dise ases. Both views should b taken, at a distance of 6 feet during the middle phase of respiration and if desirable thick barium may be swallowed to outline the ocsop hagus for various measurements.Thus, in aortic valvular disease apart from left ventricular enlargement there may be calcification of valve and dilatation of aorta. In mitral disease there• ill be left atfial enlargement with additional changes in the lung and right ventricle in stenosis, and lcft ventricular enlargement in incompetence.In must be admitted that the possibility of reaching an exact diagnosis by plain X-Ray of chest alone is much more in acquired heart disease than congenital heart disease where one has to be satisfied by placing them in one of.the above twelve subgroups (Table I) as the anatomical abnormalities may be multiple. Howe ver, the radiographic picture coupled with other clinic al features and the frequency of occurrence of a disease makes possible very sophisticated diagnosis. The X-Ray chest is the cheapest and rupee for rupee most useful non-invasive cardiac diagnostic test available.