Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cardiothoracic ratio
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The cardiothoracic ratio is the calculated by measuring the transverse diameter of the heart on a posterior / anterior chest X ray x-ray examination and dividing it by the diameter of the thoracic cage. A value > 0.5 or one half is consistent with enlargement of the heart or cardiomegaly.”[1]
Example Of An Enlarged Cardiothoracic Ratio
Example Of An Enlarged Cardiothoracic Ratio
Shown below is an example of an enlarged cardiothoracic ratio with a ratio exceeding 0.5:
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]