X-Ray is maybe the oldest and best known imaging method in medicine. The essence of this examination is based on the fact that a certain part of patient´s body is “lit up” by X-Ray. X-Ray is absorbed less by tender tissues (like for example the lungs) than “tough” tissues (like bones). An X-Ray is captured on an X-Ray picture.

In the case of myocarditis, an X-Ray of the chest is used to exclude other possible conditions like pneumonia, engorgement in pulmonary circulation (higher pressure in vessels causes their widening and afterwards transfer of fluid through the wall of vessels to lungs). An X-Ray can also show larger pericardial effusion or heart enlargement (cardiomegaly).

Picture16: X ray of a patient with and without pericardial effusion (authors: Zhangzhugang; James Heilman, MD)

Author of the opening picture: Zhangzhugang; James Heilman, MD