cardiomegaly
Definition
- Noun:
- An abnormal enlargement of the heart: A medical term describing a condition where the heart is larger than its normal size. This is not a disease itself but a sign of an underlying problem.
Usage
- Cardiomegaly is used exclusively in medical and clinical contexts. It is a formal, technical term.
- It is typically used by doctors, in medical reports, or in scientific literature to describe a finding from an examination (like a chest X-ray) or a symptom of another condition.
Examples
- The chest X-ray revealed significant cardiomegaly, prompting further cardiac investigation.
- One of the potential complications of long-term hypertension is the development of cardiomegaly.
- The doctor noted that the patient's cardiomegaly was likely due to a faulty heart valve.
Advanced Usage
- "Compensatory cardiomegaly": Enlargement that occurs as the heart works harder to overcome a problem, such as a narrowed valve or high blood pressure.
- "Athlete's heart": This is a specific, non-pathological form of cardiomegaly common in endurance athletes, where the heart enlargement is a normal adaptation to exercise. It is often described as "mild cardiomegaly."
Variants and Related Words
- Cardiomegalic (adjective): Pertaining to or characterized by an enlarged heart.
- The patient showed cardiomegalic changes on the echocardiogram.
- Megacardia (noun): A synonym for cardiomegaly.
- Enlarged heart (noun phrase): The common, non-technical term for cardiomegaly.
Synonyms
- Enlarged heart
- Megacardia
- Cardiac enlargement
Related Medical Terms (Not Synonyms)
- Hypertrophy: Thickening of the heart muscle, a common cause of cardiomegaly.
- Dilation: Stretching and widening of the heart chambers, another cause of cardiomegaly.
- Heart failure: A condition that often involves or results in cardiomegaly.
Noun
-
an abnormal enlargement of the heart
-
mild cardiomegaly is common in athletes
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ có nhắc đến "cardiomegaly"
