Common causes of mild left atrial enlargement can be divided into both congenital causes, like ventricular septal defect, or VSD, and patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, and acquired causes, like mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, left ventricular failure and left atrial myxoma, as reported by Radiopaedia. Left atrial enlargement generally happens when there is an increase in atrial wall tension due to an increase in filling pressures. Left atrial enlargement has also been commonly associated with atrial fibrillations, mortality after myocardial infractions and strokes.
Continue ReadingTo determine whether a patient has a mild left atrial enlargement, a chest X-ray will normally be performed. The radiologists will look for visual signs like:
There are also some indirect signs to look for like: