Radiologic Considerations in Heterotaxy: The Need for Detailed Anatomic Evaluation

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2016 Mar 15

PMID 26973805

Citations 8

Authors

Rohit Loomba

Parinda H Shah

Robert H Anderson

Yingyot Arora

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

So-called "heterotaxy" is a laterality defect characterized by isomerism of the thoracic organs and random arrangement of the abdominal organs. These findings go beyond anatomic curiosity and have functional implications. It is, thus, of the utmost importance to be able to properly identify these findings. Radiologic studies can be invaluable in determining anomalies in the central nervous, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and immunologic systems in patients with isomerism. Here, we review findings associated with isomerism and their importance in the setting of isomerism with the aim of ensuring that radiologists effectively describe findings in these patients and that cardiologists understand the wide variety of congenital malformations that may be present.

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