Shall we report cardiomegaly at routine computed tomography of the chest? Journal Article


Authors: Gollub, M. J.; Panu, N.; Delaney, H.; Sohn, M.; Zheng, J.; Moskowitz, C. S.; Rademaker, J.; Liu, J.
Article Title: Shall we report cardiomegaly at routine computed tomography of the chest?
Abstract: PURPOSE: To examine the accuracy of the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) at routine computed tomography (CT) of the chest to diagnose cardiomegaly by using echocardiography (ECHO) as a criterion standard, and secondarily, to search for CT cardiac measurements correlating with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) at ECHO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched 2 databases: cancer patients who had chest CT who also underwent routine ECHO by one experienced cardiologist, from January to March 2008. Consecutive patients were enrolled who had chest radiography (CXR) within 1 month and ECHO within 6 months of CT. Cardiothoracic ratio was defined as the transverse greatest cardiac diameter from outer to outer myocardium on axial images divided by the transverse greatest thoracic diameter from inner to inner chest wall on axial images, as measured by 2 board-certified radiologists. Left ventricular short diameter on CT was measured from inner to inner myocardium. Left ventricular hypertrophy at ECHO was defined using the standard American Society of Echocardiography criteria. Other data captured included cardiac and chemotherapy history, and secondary signs of heart failure. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and Wilcoxon rank sum tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 101 patients, 52 men and 49 women, with a mean age of 58 years met the entry criteria. Cardiothoracic ratio at CXR and CT were highly correlated (r = 0.802) (P < 0.001). There was moderate ability of CT CTR to identify LVH (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve AUC = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.90). The CT left ventricular short diameter showed moderate correlation with the ECHO left ventricular internal diameter (r = 0.49) and left ventricular mass (r = 0.37). CONCLUSION: In patients with cancer undergoing routine ECHO, the cardiothoracic ratio at routine CT scans was highly correlated with that at CXR. Preliminary estimates in this small study indicate a low likelihood of LVH when the CTR is less than 0.49. Copyright © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; major clinical study; diagnostic accuracy; sensitivity and specificity; neoplasms; tomography, x-ray computed; radiography, thoracic; heart failure; predictive value of tests; contrast media; thorax radiography; echocardiography; thorax wall; statistics, nonparametric; heart muscle; roc curve; computed tomographic angiography; cardiomegaly; cardiovascular parameters; cardiothoracic ratio; routine ct; heart left ventricle hypertrophy; heart thorax index; hypertrophy, left ventricular
Journal Title: Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
Volume: 36
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0363-8715
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2012-01-01
Start Page: 67
End Page: 71
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0b013e318241e585
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 22261772
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 March 2012" - "CODEN: JCATD" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Jennifer Liu
    118 Liu
  2. Junting Zheng
    200 Zheng
  3. Marc J Gollub
    208 Gollub
  4. Chaya S. Moskowitz
    278 Moskowitz
  5. Neety Panu
    1 Panu
  6. Michael J Sohn
    13 Sohn