Page 192 - Clinical Pearls in Cardiology

180 Clinical Pearls in Cardiology

2. What are the important factors that have to be assessed
while assessing the cardiovascular system on a chest
X-ray?
The cardiac silhouette occupies 50–55% of the chest
width on an anterioposterior chest X-ray. When assessing
the cardiovascular system on a chest X-ray, the following
must be noted:
• The size of the heart (small, normal, or large)
• The contours of the heart reflecting the various
cardiovascular components like the various
chambers. These structures may be enlarged, absent,
or displaced
• The pulmonary vascularity which can be diminished,
normal, or increased.

Fig. 2: Composition of the normal heart shadow on a PA chest X-ray