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Left atrial enlargement due to mitral stenosis

Case contributed by Vikas Shah
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Long history of shortness of breath on exertion.

Patient Data

Age: 30
Gender: Female
Annotated image

The x-ray shows signs of mitral valve disease - and the echocardiogram confirmed mitral stenosis. 

This leads to cardiomegaly. The left atrium enlarges and can sometimes cause a double right heart border as the edges of both the right and left atria are seem, although this is not so obvious in this particular case. If this sign is seen, a measurement can be taken from the edge of the left atrium to the left main bronchus, and a measurement greater than 7 cm is a sign of left atrial enlargement. The carina is splayed as result of the enlarged left atrium pushing up from underneath, and the left main bronchus assumes a more horizontal position. Finally, the left atrial appendage enlarges, seen as a loss of normal concavity just inferior to the left pulmonary artery. There may also be signs of cardiac failure although not clearly seen in this case. 

Case Discussion

The commonest cause of this globally is rheumatic heart disease in which an endocarditis leads to valvular stenosis. Watch this short video by Andrew Dixon of Radiopaedia and Radiology Channel which explains these signs of left atrial enlargement.

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