Heart Size

In an adult, a good quality film will show a normal cardiothoracic ratio of 0.5. Conditions causing a ratio >0.5 are cardiomegaly (dilation and hypertrophy), pericardial effusion, small lung volumes or pectus excavatum. However, a ratio of <0.5 cannot rule out...

Calcifications

Evaluate for Calcifications Calcified areas are dense. Look for these regions in valves, vessels (coronary arteries) pericardium and walls of the LV (aneurysm/posterior infarct). To find valves on a lateral film draw a lline from the carina to the xiphoid and then...