Situs inversus

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Situs inversus,(rare plural: sitūs inversi)short form of the Latin “situs inversus viscerum”, is a term used to describe the inverted position of chest and abdominal organs. It is called situs inversus totalis when there is a total transposition of abdominal and thoracic viscera (mirror image of internal organs normal positioning). Normal positioning of the organs - as found in the majority of individuals is called situs solitus.

PathologyEpidemiology

Associations

Situs inversus is usually associated with dextrocardia (true mirror image) with only 3-5% incidence of congenital heart disease, most commonly transposition of the great vessels. Of these patients, 80% have a right-sided aortic arch. Situs inversus with levocardialaevocardia (which is much rarer: 0.00005%) congenital heart disease is found in 95% of patients 4.

Up to 20% of patients with situs inversus can have Kartagener syndrome 3 which comprises a subgroup of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Situs inversus can be associated with both asplenia 5 or polysplenia (rarely) 6.

Complete situs inversus is associated with the absence of inferior vena cava 5.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Imaging features on chest radiograph to be evaluated are:

  • location of the heart apex
  • location of the aortic arch
  • locations of stomach bubble and liver

See also

  • -<p><strong>Situs inversus</strong>,<strong> </strong>(rare plural: sitūs inversi)<strong> </strong>short form of the Latin “situs inversus viscerum”, is a term used to describe the inverted position of chest and abdominal organs. It is called <strong>situs inversus totalis</strong> when there is a total transposition of abdominal and thoracic viscera (mirror image of internal organs normal positioning). Normal positioning of the organs - as found in the majority of individuals is called <strong>situs solitus</strong>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Associations</h5><p>Situs inversus is usually associated with <a href="/articles/dextrocardia">dextrocardia</a> (true mirror image) with only 3-5% incidence of <a href="/articles/congenital-heart-disease">congenital heart disease</a>, most commonly <a href="/articles/transposition-of-the-great-arteries">transposition of the great vessels</a>. Of these patients, 80% have a <a href="/articles/right-sided-aortic-arch-2">right-sided aortic arch</a>. Situs inversus with levocardia (which is much rarer: 0.00005%) congenital heart disease is found in 95% of patients <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>Up to 20% of patients with situs inversus can have <a href="/articles/kartagener-syndrome-1">Kartagener syndrome</a> <sup>3</sup> which comprises a subgroup of <a href="/articles/primary-ciliary-dyskinesia">primary ciliary dyskinesia</a>.</p><p>Situs inversus can be associated with both asplenia <sup>5</sup> or <a href="/articles/polysplenia-syndrome-1">polysplenia</a> (rarely) <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>Complete situs inversus is associated with the absence of inferior vena cava <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Imaging features on chest radiograph to be evaluated are:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Situs inversus</strong>,<strong> </strong>(rare plural: sitūs inversi)<strong> </strong>short form of the Latin “situs inversus viscerum”, is a term used to describe the inverted position of chest and abdominal organs. It is called <strong>situs inversus totalis</strong> when there is a total transposition of abdominal and thoracic viscera (mirror image of internal organs normal positioning). Normal positioning of the organs - as found in the majority of individuals is called <strong>situs solitus</strong>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><h5>Associations</h5><p>Situs inversus is usually associated with <a href="/articles/dextrocardia">dextrocardia</a> (true mirror image) with only 3-5% incidence of <a href="/articles/congenital-heart-disease">congenital heart disease</a>, most commonly <a href="/articles/transposition-of-the-great-arteries">transposition of the great vessels</a>. Of these patients, 80% have a <a href="/articles/right-sided-aortic-arch-2">right-sided aortic arch</a>. Situs inversus with laevocardia (which is much rarer: 0.00005%) congenital heart disease is found in 95% of patients <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>Up to 20% of patients with situs inversus can have <a href="/articles/kartagener-syndrome-1">Kartagener syndrome</a> <sup>3</sup> which comprises a subgroup of <a href="/articles/primary-ciliary-dyskinesia">primary ciliary dyskinesia</a>.</p><p>Situs inversus can be associated with both asplenia <sup>5</sup> or <a href="/articles/polysplenia-syndrome-1">polysplenia</a> (rarely) <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>Complete situs inversus is associated with the absence of inferior vena cava <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>Imaging features on <a title="Chest radiograph" href="/articles/chest-radiograph">chest radiograph</a> to be evaluated are:</p><ul>

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