Description:
Despite more accurate methods of cardiac imaging, plain chest X- ray (CXR) still is
the first imaging modality in people with suspected heart diseases. The most important
application of CXR in cardiac patients is the estimation of cardiac size.
However, there are factors which may influence the cardiac size estimation some of
these are technique used in CXR, age, sex, and BMI. Some chest radiography are done
anterior – posterior, rotated film and with inadequate inspiratory efforts, this mainly
due patients condition who are very sick and immobile, these parameters affect cardiac
size estimation on chest radiography.
Objectives: To assess the accuracy of cardiac size estimation on chest radiography at
KCMC Radiology department and to determine the sensitivity specificity, positive and
negative predictive value, negative likely hood ratio, positive likely hood ratio and
diagnostic odd ratio.
Methodology: A retrospective cross section study will be carried out for a period of 6
months in Radiology department of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Study
population will comprise adult patients sent to radiology department with
cardiovascular symptoms who have chest x ray and echocardiography. Data collection
sheet will be used to collect data on chest radiography findings and echocardiography
findings. Echocardiography will be used as the gold standard. The sensitivity,
specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value positive and
negative likely ratio, diagnostic odd ratio will be calculated.