Left ventricle of the heart on conventional lateral chest films

Segments of the left ventricular circumference were visible within the radiologic image of the heart on conventional full size lateral chest films of 122 patients; in 75 the findings were confirmed by cardioangiography. The presence of the epicardial fat layer and the locally varying thickness of the heart in the direction of the radiation are considered as main factors in the demonstration of the left ventricular outline. The clinical significance of the findings in shortly discussed.