Atrial escape

Last revised by Vincent Tatco on 6 Jul 2016

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Tatco V, Kang O, et al. Atrial escape. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-20320

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-20320

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/20320

rID:

20320

Article created:

13 Nov 2012, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

6 Jul 2016, Vincent Tatco

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Vincent Tatco had no recorded disclosures.

View Vincent Tatco's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Cardiac

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

heart

Atrial escape refers to a chest x-ray sign of massive left atrial enlargement and is an exaggerated version of the double density sign.

Normally, the right border of the left atrium is not visible. As it enlarges it forms a distinct border projecting through the right heart shadow, medial to the right heart border (see normal cardiomediastinal outline). When the atrium enlarges further, eventually its right border projects lateral to the normal right heart border. It is this reversal of the usual double density sign which is known as atrial escape.