A roentgenological evaluation of the cardiac silhouette in adult Africans in Kenyatta national hospital (k.N.H.) - Nairobi

Abstract

Roentgenological Evaluation of the Cardiac Size of Adult Kenyan Africans using the following parameters, namely: The Transverse Diameter of the Heart (TD) , The Cardiothoracic Ratio (CTR), The Frontal Cardiac Area (AA), and The Relative Cardiac Volume (RV) - was done on 465 normal subjects and 68 patients with known cardiac pathologies. The other parameters, like the Aortic Transverse Diameter (AD), the Aortic Index (AI) and the Calculated Cardiac Volume (CV), were included because they were found to be complementary in the Cardiac Silhouette Assessment; however, they do not major in the Discussion and Conclusions of this study. These parameters were assessed against variable demographic and physical characteristics, in order to ascertain which of the methods is/are least influenced by these factors. Their 'pick-up rates' of the Abnormals was, also, assessed and their Baseline values determined. Overall, the RV Method was shown to be relatively the most accurate, whereas the TD Method depicted as the most practical and yet relatively reliable, and is thus recommended for routine use. The Baseline Values were found to be comparable with those reported elsewhere in non-African, mainly Caucasian populations. However/ several pitfalls were evident in the study findings, therefore/ further research in the subject is stressed and recommended