radiological appearance of coarctation of the aorta
Last reviewed 01/2018
Features include:
- abnormal configuration in the region of the aortic knuckle (low, high, flat or double)
- usually heart size is normal. Occasionally the cardiac outline may show left ventricular hypertrophy and mild enlargement of the left atrium
- prominence of the ascending aorta
- a classical appearence is notching of ribs 3 to 8. However this is not seen in children under 5 years of age, and is in any case very rare