Moguls of the heart

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 27 Jun 2018

The 'moguls of the heart' refer to the bulges of the cardiomediastinal contour on frontal chest radiographs. The cardiomediastinal bulges are likened to skiing moguls (bumps of packed snow on a mountainside sculptured by turning skis). Awareness of their usual locations and etiologies is helpful in their recognition. 

Radiographic features

On the right cardiomediastinal border:

On the left cardiomediastinal border:

History and etymology

The term was popularized by M Daves in the 1970s 1-3.