FRONTAL CHEST FILM AS A METHOD OF SUSPECTING TRANSPOSITION COMPLEXES

The frontal chest film as a means of suspecting transposition complexes is discussed. The 1st step is recognizing the normal relationships formed by the ascending aorta, an aortic knob-descending aorta and the pulmonary trunk. The concept of which ventricle is connected to which atrium is developed, the terms ventricular noninversion and inversion being utilized. Frontal chest film signs of transposition are summarized as follows: in the majority of transposition complexes, absence of the pulmonary trunk is the premier sign; patients with ventricular noninversion tend to show the ascending aorta and aortic knob-descending aorta in normal position. Patients with ventricular inversion usually show absence of all 3 great artery relationships. In ventricular inversion, the left heart border shows a low septal notch or a diffuse convex bulge (2 ventricles), or a discrete bulge high up on the left heart border (single ventricle).