RANKING OF STANDARD CHEST RADIOGRAPHY IN ASSESSING CARDIAC SIZE - COMPARISON WITH LEFT-VENTRICULAR ANGIOGRAMS

Purpose: To determine the value of standard chest radiographs in the a ssessment of cardiac size. Methods: In 193 patients cardiac size was c ompared between standard chest radiographs in the posteroanterior and lateral projection and left ventricular angiograms. The following para meters were determined: transverse diameter, lateral horizontal transv erse diameter, cardiothoracic ratio and enddiastolic volume index (EDV I) and ejection fraction (EF). Results: Subjective assessment of the l eft ventricular size resulted in a mean sensitivity / specificity / ac curacy of 69.7 % / 87.4 % / 82.0 % respectively, in comparison to EDVI . Estimation of global heart size yielded a mean sensitivity/ specific ity / accuracy of 48.8 % / 93.6 % / 77.8 %, respectively, in compariso n to EE Cardiothoracic ratio for the detection of pathological EDVI or EF had a sensitivity of 77.3 % / 57.4 % a specificity of 79.3 % / 80. 8 % and an accuracy of 78.9 % / 72.5 %. Conclusions: Standard chest ra diographs with the determination of cardiothoracic ratio remain a clin ically relevant procedure for screening and follow-up of heart disease .