Chest Radiography

The utility of the CXR is primarily for ruling out conditions that may masquerade as acute myocardial ischemia as well as defining secondary findings that may accompany acute myocardial infarction.

Acute pulmonary edema can be seen on a CXR without enlargement of the cardiac silhouette in patients with acute myocardial infarction and no prior history of ischemic damage or associated mitral valve disease.

However, CXR is insufficient to confirm or exclude the presence of significant CAD( Coronary Artery Disease)

Other cardiovascular entities, such as aortic aneurysms, aortic dissections, and pulmonary embolism may be suggested from the CXR but with far lower sensitivity than other imaging modalities such as MDCT..

Non cardiac findings associated with chest pain that can be identified on the CXR include pneumothorax, fractured ribs, pleural effusions, and pneumonia.

G Mohan