title: Cardiothoracic ratio in Nigerian newborn infants.
abstract: Cardiothoracic ratio was calculated from measurements made on the frontal radiographs of 172 normal (appropriate for gestational age) Nigerian newborn infants. The normal ratio was compared with those of 30, 32 and 42 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome, birth asphyxia and parenchymal lung disease respectively. The ratio for normal neonates was 49.12%. It was however significantly increased in respiratory distress syndrome (51.18%) and asphyxia (50.81%). The cardiothoracic ratio values obtained in this study are lower than those in Caucasian newborn infants.
mesh_terms: D001699:Biometry; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009549:Nigeria; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012016:Reference Values; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000473:pathology; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology