Aortic stenosis chest x ray


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]; Cafer Zorkun, M.D. Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Chest x ray may be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of aortic stenosis. Findings associated with aortic stenosis include left ventricular hypertrophy and calcification of the aortic valve.

Chamber Enlargement
Chest X-ray may show hypertrophied left ventricle if there is aortic stenosis. In later stages of disease; the left ventricle dilates and the patient may have pulmonary congestion appears on X-ray. In case of severe aortic stenosis for a long time; the left atrium, pulmonary artery, and right side of heart may become enlarged too.

Calcification

 * Calcification of the valve is found in nearly all adult patients who have significant aortic stenosis.
 * If calcification of the aortic valve is present on a chest x ray in adult, the aortic valve gradient is usually greater than 50 mm Hg.