[Calcifications from cardiac etiology in chest radiography]

OBJECTIVE: Children s chest X-ray calcification images can be related to pulmonary, mediastinal and rarely cardiac parenchymatous pathology. This report describes cases of cardio thoracic calcifications. We emphasize the importance of chest X-ray to track thoracic calcifications. In spite of the fact that it is rare, the cardiac etiology must be considered due to the possibility of surgical treatment.METHODS: Regarding the period from 1988 to 1997 the authors reviewed the chest X-rays of 2108 patients. In 3 of them thoracic calcifications of cardiac etiology were observed.RESULTS: Of these three patients, two were 7 years old and the third was 3 years old. Case 1 presented a calcification in the right atrium topography caused by a heart tumor of Fibroma type. In case 2 the calcification was in the pulmonary trunk, presenting as a calcified aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus. In case 3 the child had pulmonary stenosis and the chest X-ray showed a calcified image on the left cardiac boards caused by a thrombo in the right ventricle wall.CONCLUSION: The authors emphasize the importance of chest X-ray in the diagnosis of thoracic calcifications, and comment that in spite of the being rare, the cardiac causes should be considered due to the possibility of surgical treatment.