Right Heart Dilatation in Adults: Congenital Causes

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the common congenital cardiac lesions that are characterized by right-sided heart enlargement that may be seen on routine thoracic or cardiac imaging. A systematic approach to the evaluation of the right heart and an understanding of the congenital abnormalities causing right chamber enlargement will allow the radiologist to diagnose unsuspected cardiac abnormalities on routine clinical thoracic and cardiac imaging as well as accurately identify these defects on dedicated cardiac CT or MRI examinations.