RT Book, Section
A1 Ravenel, James G.
A2 Chen, Michael Y.M.
A2 Pope, Thomas L.
A2 Ott, David J.
SR Print(0)
ID 6668195
T1 Chapter 3. Imaging of the Heart and Great Vessels
T2 Basic Radiology, 2e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-162708-5
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6668195
RD 2024/04/24
AB The  heart  is  often  the  “forgotten”  structure  in  thoracic  imaging  studies.  Yet  a  tremendous  amount  of  information  regarding  cardiac  structure  and  function  can  be  gleaned  from  careful  analysis  of  studies,  regardless  of  whether  they  are  dedicated  to  cardiac  imaging.  This  chapter  describes  the  normal  radiographic  appearance  of  the  heart,  pericardium,  and  great  vessels  (aorta  and  pulmonary  vessels)  and  briefly  outlines  some  of  the  more  common  pathologic  entities  in  this  organ  system.  Critical  evaluation  of  the  findings  on  the  imaging  examinations  of  this  region  is  not  possible  without  paying  attention  to  the  lungs,  as  these  two  organ  systems  mirror  changes  in  each  other.  The  most  common  abnormalities  encountered  in  the  cardiovascular  system  are  hypertension,  pulmonary  arterial  hypertension  (usually  secondary  to  chronic  pulmonary  disease),  congestive  heart  failure,  atherosclerotic  disease,  and  valvular  disease.  Less  common  cardiac  and  great  vessel  diseases  such  as  congenital  heart  disease,  neoplasms,  and  diseases  of  the  pericardium  are  described  in  less  detail.  The  last  topic,  monitoring  devices  and  postoperative  changes,  is  one  with  which  students  should  be  familiar.