Recent Advances in the Roentgenographic Diagnosis of Congenital Malformation of the Heart and Great Vessels

Abstract

THE roentgenographic features of certain congenital malformations of the heart and great vessels have recently been clarified. An accurate diagnosis of the nature of the malformation cannot be made without a clear understanding of the basic physiologic changes caused by such a malformation, and only rarely can an accurate diagnosis be made by simple roentgenographic methods alone. The diagnosis should, whenever possible, be based on the history, physical findings, electrocardiogram, film and fluoroscopic examination, and on the simpler laboratory procedures. In some cases it may be necessary to call upon the more complicated ancillary methods of diagnosis, such as angiocardiography, . . .