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Interventional Cardiology (Expert Forum)
xrays and pulmonary hypertension
Answered by
Mukesh Garg, MD - Cardiology, Internal Medicine
Truman Medical Center
Kansas City - MO
Questions in the Interventional Cardiology forum are answered by medical professionals affiliated with the Truman Medical Center. Topics covered include acute coronary syndrome, angina , atrial fibrillation , cardiac catheterization , cardiomyopathy , drug abuse & cardiac disease, echocardiography , heart failure , hypertension & heart disease , lipid management , minorities and heart disease, peripheral vascular disease prevention, valvular heart disease , women’s heart health, and the warning signs of a heart attack.
xrays and pulmonary hypertension
by KSM1113, Sep 04, 2008 08:41PM
I have been having shortness of breath for a couple weeks now and just went to see a pulmonologist which he stated one of my levels were a little below average but everything else on the Pulmonary Function Test was normal. He looked at my chest xrays and noticed that my pulmonary artery looked a little larger. I am a very small framed person. I am a little under five feet tall and around 85 lbs. This has been my average weight for as long as I can remember.
Anyways, my question is because I am a small framed person (according to the pulmonologist my chest wall is thin), can my pulmonary arteries show up a little bigger because of my frame? What types of diseases other than pulmonary hypertension could cause this?
Thanks
Anyways, my question is because I am a small framed person (according to the pulmonologist my chest wall is thin), can my pulmonary arteries show up a little bigger because of my frame? What types of diseases other than pulmonary hypertension could cause this?
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Mukesh Garg, MD, Sep 04, 2008 09:11PM
, Sep 04, 2008 09:11PM
The size of blood vessels is influenced by body frame. The best way to evaluate causes of enlarged Pulmonary artery would be to get an echocardiogram, talk to your doctor about it.
Member Comments (2)
by KSM1113, Sep 04, 2008 11:27PM
To: Dr. Garg, MD
Does this mean that because I am small framed that my pulmonary artery should be small? What are the chances that I would have Pulmonary hypertension?
