A frontal chest radiograph shows double density to the right of the spine (short arrows) and convex border of the left atrial appendage (long arrows).
A lateral view of the chest shows posterior displacement of the left mainstem bronchus by an enlarged left atrium (arrowheads).
Signs of Left Atrial Enlargement (LAE) on Chest Radiography
- Convex left atrial appendage
- Double density on the right side of the spine (one of the earliest signs)
- Double density on the left side as the left atrium extends into the left lower lobe
- Posterior displacement of the left mainstem bronchus posteriorly on lateral view, and superiorly on frontal view
- Spreading of the carina
Common Causes of LAE
- Acquired: mitral valve disease (stenosis or regurgitation), left ventricular failure, left atrial myxoma
- Congenital: VSD, PDA, hypoplastic left heart complex
Our case: severe mitral regurgitation
Reference:
Miller SW, Boxt LM, Abbara S. Cardiac Imaging the Requisites, 2009, 3rd edition.
No comments:
Post a Comment