Chest X-Ray in Pediatric Cardiology

Chest X-ray is a valuable, frequently used, and inexpensive tool in the assessment of the cardiovascular system. However, the cardiologist must be mindful of the radiation exposure, though minimal, it causes to the patient. Chest X-ray is one of the older tools in the trade and provides valuable information regarding the size of the heart, the possible congenital heart disease through the changes noted in the cardiac silhouette contour, changes in pulmonary blood flow as reflected through pulmonary vascular markings, the abdominal and cardiac position within the body, and other important information. This chapter will review the principals in assessing a chest X-ray and a review of various lesions with images demonstrating the expected changes.