
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β 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.
Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve chest x ray
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The chest X Ray in Ebsteinβs anomaly of the tricuspid valve may demonstrate cardiomegaly, a dilated right atrium and a pruned pulmonary vasculature.
Chest x-ray Findings
Chest x-ray Findings
Mild Cases
The chest x-ray may be normal in patients with mild disease.
Severe Disease
- Massive cardiomegaly with a balloon shaped globular heart. The cardiothoracic ratio can be used as a parameter to follow the patient over time.
- Small main pulmonary artery shadow
- Diminished pulmonary vascularity
- Dilated right atrium
- The left heart border becomes straight or convex due to the dilated and displaced right ventricular outflow tract.
- Small aortic root
Chest X Ray Example
Chest X Ray Example
Shown below is the chest x-ray of a patient with Ebstein’s anomaly which demonstrates cardiomegaly:

Shown below is the chest x-ray of the patient with Ebstein’s anomaly in whom the cardiothoracic ratio exceeds 0.5. The pulmonary vasculature is pruned, the right atrium is enlarged, and the right ventricle is enlarged.
Shown below is the chest x-ray of a patient with Ebstein’s anomaly in whom the right atrium is markedly enlarged.
Shown below is the chest x-ray showing box shaped heart in Ebstein’s anomaly.

Limitations of the chest x-ray
Limitations of the chest x-ray
The chest x-ray is nonspecific in the diagnosis of Ebstein’s anomaly and a normal chest x-ray does not exclude the diagnosis of Ebstein’s anomaly.
References
References
- β <a href=”https://radiopaedia.org/“>Radiopaedia.org</a>. From the case <a href=”https://radiopaedia.org/cases/43277“>rID: 43277</a>
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] and Claudia P. Hochberg, M.D. [2] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]}; Keri Shafer, M.D. [4] Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [[5]] Kristin Feeney, B.S. [[6]]
