Allan, G. Grant

2018-01-31T11:24:25Z

2018-01-31T11:24:25Z

1929

This investigation of over one hundred cases of cardiac conditions was carried out in the Radiological Department of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and was only rendered possible by the encouragement, advice and facility generously given to me by Dr. J.M. Woodburn Morison to whom I am deeply indebted.

1. In a general way the valuable assistance which Radiology offers to the clinician in the investigation of heart conditions is discussed, stress. being laid upon the view that the lesser degrees of cardiac enlargement can be infinitely more accurately recorded by Radiography thane by any other method.

2. The technique of the examination of the heart by X- -Rays, as employed in the Loyal Infirmary, Edinburgh, is detailed.

3. Particular attention is drawn to the methods employed in measuring the area of the heart projection as obtained by teleradiography, the writer being of the opinion that if the total cardiac area, including the supracardiac and aortic areas, is measured a more reasonable estimate can be formed of both the major and minor degrees of cardiac enlargement.

4. The question of relating the area of the heart to the individual is discussed and the suggestion formulated that perhaps the most useful relationship is found to exist between the surface area of the heart and the surface area of the body, consideration being made for the age of the individual.

5. Over one hundred cases are presented in a classified series in which this relationship has been worked out in each case. The results are considered to be interesting and in all probability of some value to the clinician, though it is apparent that many more cases must be examined by this method before definite conclusions can be arrived at.

6. Some interesting cardiac conditions are included with notes on each case which demonstrate the value of the X -Ray examination in the differential diagnosis of these conditions.

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/26901

The University of Edinburgh

Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2017 Block 15

X-ray examination of the heart with special reference to the cardiac area in disease

Thesis or Dissertation

Doctoral

MD Doctor of Medicine