radiological appearance of mitral regurgitation
Last reviewed 01/2018
Appearances vary with respect to whether the mitral regurgitation is a chronic feature (eg rheumatic heart disease) or whether it is of an acute onset (eg mitral regurgitation post myocardial infarct).
- acute mitral regurgitation:
- gross pulmonary oedema
- no enlargement of left atrium or increased cardiothoracic ratio
- chronic mitral regurgitation:
- cardiomegaly:
- dilated left ventricle (preloaded ventricle), atrial appendage and atrium (high left atrial pressure).
- signs of pulmonary venous hypertension eg upper lobe vein diversion (pulmonary arterial resistance greater in lower lobes).
- if there is no additional left ventricular disease then the heart size correlates with the degree of mitral regurgitation.