routine cxr shows left ventricle mild enlargement with aortic ectasia

[mullavea]

I am a healthy 57 y.o. female, B.P. 112/70, all blood tests excellent, regular exercise , get tightness in the back of my chest when strenuously exercising.  Had a routine cxr, shower mild ventricular enlargement, aortic ectasia, EKG normal.  Should I be worried or  proceed further with testing?

[kenkeith]

Aortic ectasia is a condition characterized by aortic root dilatation resulting in aortic regurgitation.  You didn't state the size of aortic root (normal is 2.0 - 3.7 cm).  When the size is 4.0 cm it is medically classified as an aneursym and when and if it reaches 5.0 there is a risk of rupture and surgical intervention begins to be a consideration.

The condition is closely monitored when an aneurysm and record any progression.  Generally it may progress at 0.5 cm every 6 to 12 months.  

Mild ventricular enlargement and aortic estasia may be explained by during diastole (LV resting stage and filling phase)  the blood in the aorta regurgitates in the LV causing its dilatation then hypertrophy. During systole the ventricle pumps a larger than normal amount of blood in the aorta which dilates.

An echocardiogram would help understand and calculate dimensions (heart chamber, aortic root, heart valves, pumping efficiency, etc.  It would provide a reference for future comparison.