generalized cardiomegaly on chest radiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Causes include:

  • dilated chambers:
    • congestive cardiac failure
    • dilated cardiomyopathy

  • thickened walls:
    • congestive cardiac failure
    • hypertensive heart disease
    • hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

  • pericardial effusion:
    • transudate:
      • heart failure
      • hypoalbuminaemia, e.g. malnutrition, chronic liver disease
    • exudate:
    • infection, e.g. coxsackie virus, tuberculosis
      • connective tissue disease, e.g. SLE
      • metastases, e.g. breast, bronchus
      • hypothyroidism
      • uraemia
      • radiation
      • blood, e.g. aortic dissection, trauma