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What Causes Shadow Behind Heart On A Chest X-ray Of A Person With Heart Murmur?

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Posted on Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Question: I was born with a heart murmur. had a chest xray, it revealed a shadow behind my heart. I suppose to have knee replacement surgery on the 7th of December. I just had an echograhm and stress test on Tuesday of this week. Had not gotten results as of today. My CT scan is scheduled after surgery date. What would cause a shadow behind the heart and will this prevent me from having the scheduled surgery.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

I understand your concern and would explain that a shadow behind your heart could be related to different causes:

-an interatrial congenital defect, which would also explain the heart murmur since birth. This defect can cause enlargement of the cardiac chambers leading to similar images in the chest X ray study
-an aortal aneurysm
-a mediastinal cyst
-an esophageal diverticulus, etc.

Could you please upload the chest X ray study and cardiac ultrasound for me to review?

An interatrial defect could be detected in the transthoracal ultrasound. A transesophageal ultrasound would give more information on this disorder.

Nevertheless, as long as you don't have any clinical symptomatology for possible acute coronary syndrome, cardiac failure or cardiac arrhythmia (in your ECG), there is no contraindications to your surgery.

Hope to have been helpful!

Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!

Greetings!

Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)
i do not have the results as of yet, so the echograhm would not reveal the cause of the shadow
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

If the cardiac ultrasound didn't confirm a possible interatrial defect, a transesophageal ultrasound would give more information on this issue.

Anyway, as long as the three main cardiac syndromes (cardiac failure, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac arrhythmia) have been excluded, there is no reason to cancel the scheduled surgery.

From the other hand the hiatal hernia that you refer, could also mimic a similar image on the chest X ray study.

So you don't have to worry about it.

If you could upload in the next days your tests reports, I would be happy to review them and give a more professional opinion.

You can ask me directly at any time at the link below:

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765

Best regards!

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9545 Questions

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What Causes Shadow Behind Heart On A Chest X-ray Of A Person With Heart Murmur?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! I understand your concern and would explain that a shadow behind your heart could be related to different causes: -an interatrial congenital defect, which would also explain the heart murmur since birth. This defect can cause enlargement of the cardiac chambers leading to similar images in the chest X ray study -an aortal aneurysm -a mediastinal cyst -an esophageal diverticulus, etc. Could you please upload the chest X ray study and cardiac ultrasound for me to review? An interatrial defect could be detected in the transthoracal ultrasound. A transesophageal ultrasound would give more information on this disorder. Nevertheless, as long as you don't have any clinical symptomatology for possible acute coronary syndrome, cardiac failure or cardiac arrhythmia (in your ECG), there is no contraindications to your surgery. Hope to have been helpful! Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri