Cardiomegaly

The term refers to a cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart that is outside the standard. Cardiomegaly is not an independent disease, but a secondary organ of change that can be attributed to other underlying diseases.

A very strong enlargement of the heart is referred to in the clinical practice, regardless of the cause and stage as Cor bovinum ( " ox heart ").

Causes

A cardiomegaly may be the result of physiological stress or more caused by pathological processes. Triggering factors or diseases include, for example:

• Extreme physical exercise (sports Heart)
• Arterial hypertension
• Valvular heart disease
• Cardiomyopathies
• Severe anemia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hemochromatosis
• Amyloidosis
• Acromegaly
• Diphtheria

Symptoms

Without a critical size is not exceeded, cardiomegaly may be asymptomatic and are only discovered as an incidental finding on radiographs. In advanced stages, it is noticeable by cardiac arrhythmias and signs of heart failure.

Diagnosis

A cardiomegaly can be diagnosed by echocardiography or by X-ray examination ( chest X-ray ). The leading edge in the X-ray cardiothoracic ratio (CTR ) is in the pa projection. If it is greater than 0.5, which indicates a cardiomegaly. This number, however, should always be assessed in the context, since it may be increased, for example, even with severe obesity, pregnancy, ascites, and pectus excavatum.

When X-ray with mobile devices ( anteroposterior projection), the heart may appear enlarged due to projection. As a sign of cardiomegaly applies here if the cardiac silhouette touches the left chest wall.