Going beyond Cardiomegaly: Evaluation of Cardiac Chamber Enlargement at Non-Electrocardiographically Gated Multidetector CT: Current Techniques, Limitations, and Clinical Implications.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac chamber enlargement is important in the prediction of morbidity and mortality for a multitude of cardiovascular processes. Although non-electrocardiographically (ECG) gated multidetector CT is a commonly used cross-sectional imaging modality to evaluate a litany of cardiothoracic processes, a standardized method for evaluating and reporting cardiac chamber size does not exist. This has led to heterogeneity in the reporting of cardiac enlargement at routine multidetector CT with most readers often using gestalt assessment and the term cardiomegaly, which does not implicate the chamber or chambers that are enlarged. The purpose of this review article is to highlight advantages and limitations of several techniques used to assess cardiac chamber size at non-ECG-gated multidetector CT and to provide readers with reproducible and rapid measurements to determine if cardiac chamber size is present. The long-term aim would be to promote discussions between radiologists and institutions that would result in improved accuracy and decreased variability when commenting on cardiac chamber size. © RSNA, 2019.