Can mitral valve insufficiency be detected on a chest radiograph?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
Updated on December 20, 2024
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Mitral valve insufficiency is characterized by an enlarged heart, and a blowing murmur can be heard during mitral valve systole through auscultation. Therefore, in chest X-ray examinations, an enlargement of the left lower cardiac border can be observed. Some severe cases may exhibit pulmonary artery hypertension, indicated by a prominent pulmonary artery segment; additionally, patients with heart failure may show increased pulmonary blood flow, all of which aid in the diagnosis of mitral valve insufficiency. However, this is not the definitive diagnosis, which should be determined through echocardiography. Especially through Doppler imaging, the enlargement of heart structures, the mosaic blood flow caused by mitral valve insufficiency, and changes in blood flow speed and direction can be clearly diagnosed. Therefore, the primary diagnostic tool for mitral valve insufficiency is not the chest X-ray, which only shows indirect signs, but echocardiography.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Does mild mitral valve regurgitation require treatment?

The mitral valve is a crucial structure in the left ventricle that directs blood from the atrium to the ventricle. When there is mitral valve insufficiency, the blood that should be pumped from the ventricle into the aorta and distributed throughout the body can flow back into the left atrium through the mitral valve. This can sometimes increase the ineffective efforts of the heart, leading to a higher cardiac load, and may sometimes result in heart failure. Generally speaking, there is a limit to how much load the left heart can compensate for. Mild mitral valve insufficiency is mostly within the compensatory range of the heart and may not require treatment. However, it is important to determine the cause of the mitral valve insufficiency, such as whether it is due to cardiac enlargement, poor coronary artery blood supply leading to poor mitral valve development, age-related degenerative changes, rheumatic heart valve disease, or endocardial infection. Some conditions, such as those caused by infection or coronary artery ischemia, need timely treatment. The notion that treatment is not necessary is incomplete. For some age-related degenerative changes, treatment may not be needed.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Can mitral valve insufficiency be treated without valve replacement?

Mitral valve regurgitation is classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories. Generally speaking, patients with mild and some moderate regurgitation may not exhibit symptoms. However, a small proportion of patients with moderate or severe regurgitation might experience symptoms such as tightness after activity and difficulty breathing. If these conditions recur, there may be an indication for surgical intervention. Therefore, for patients with moderate to severe symptoms, or those with significant enlargement of the heart, it is recommended to consider surgery at an early stage. If patients with mild or some moderate mitral valve regurgitation are asymptomatic and do not show significant enlargement of the heart structure, medical treatment or observation without valve replacement can be considered.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation treatment

"Mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation has been detected, and treatment should be given based on the specific circumstances. If it is simply mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation without related structural heart disease, it can be temporarily observed without special intervention, and regular follow-up echocardiograms should be scheduled. If mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation is accompanied by structural heart disease, active treatment of the related heart disease should be pursued to effectively control it. If heart failure occurs, active treatment for heart failure should be initiated to prevent the worsening of mitral valve regurgitation due to aggravated heart failure. Therefore, if mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation is present, the cause should be further investigated and treated accordingly based on the different causes."

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Is mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation serious?

If the patient has a history of mitral valve insufficiency, especially in moderate cases, it is considered quite severe. The current treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment to improve the patient's cardiopulmonary function. If the patient experiences palpitations, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, sometimes intravenous therapy is required to alleviate the current condition. Because for congenital heart disease or rheumatic heart disease, the treatment primarily involves strengthening the heart, diuresis, vasodilation, symptomatic treatment, and management. If not treated and managed promptly, the disease could worsen, and the patient may also develop swelling in both lower limbs.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Will mild mitral valve regurgitation worsen?

Because mitral valve insufficiency is a type of heart valve disease and also a form of rheumatic heart disease, mild mitral valve insufficiency can be actively managed with internal medicine, thereby alleviating the patient's symptoms. However, this disease can potentially worsen, especially in cases of mild insufficiency. When cardiac function becomes impaired, it can lead to severe insufficiency. In such cases, surgical treatment is sometimes recommended for the patient. If the patient's cardiac function is actively managed, infections controlled, and regular hospital check-ups are maintained, improvement can be achieved.