Left Atrial Enlargement
Overview
Look For
- Double density sign - a double cardiac border on the right side, due to the left atrium projecting behind the right atrium
- Splaying of the carina with superior displacement of the left main bronchus
- Slight bulging of the upper left cardiac border
Causes of Left Atrial Enlargement
- Hypertensive heart disease
- Valvular disease - mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation
- Hypertrophic (obstructive) cardiomyopathy
- Aortic coarctation
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