| Abstrakt: |
Certain cardiovascular phrases or concepts, particularly roentgenological terms, should be dispensed with because they are either erroneous, misleading, or an impediment to learning. This article discusses a partial list. The first five (cardiothoracic ratio, ventricular enlargement, water-bottle heart, straight back syndrome, straight left heart border) are impediments to the evaluation of the roentgenographic cardiac silhouette; the next two (the trachea is midline, two types of right arch) distract the learner from an understanding of the position and nature of the aortic arch; the next two (Kerley's A, B, and C lines and poor inspiratory effort) obscure relatively simple and reliable roentgenographic reflections of cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, and the last two are improper names that needlessly complicate the complicated subject of aneurysms, dissections, and ruptures. That the assertions in this article are true is substantiated bibliographically. My only contribution is a realization of the chronic learning problems attributable to the persistence of |
