Jornal de Pediatria - Vol. 76, Nº3, 2000 241 CASE REPORT 241 0021-7557/00/76-03/241 Jornal de Pediatria Copyright © 2000 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria Abstract Objective: children s chest X-ray calcification images can be related to pulmonary, mediastinal and rarely cardiac parenchymatous pathology. This report describes cases of cardio thoracic calcifications. We emphasize the importance of chest X-ray to track thoracic calcifications. In spite of the fact that it is rare, the cardiac etiology must be considered due to the possibility of surgical treatment. Methods: regarding the period from 1988 to 1997 the authors reviewed the chest X-rays of 2108 patients. In 3 of them thoracic calcifications of cardiac etiology were observed. Results: of these three patients, two were 7 years old and the third was 3 years old. Case 1 presented a calcification in the right atrium topography caused by a heart tumor of Fibroma type. In case 2 the calcification was in the pulmonary trunk, presenting as a calcified aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus. In case 3 the child had pulmonary stenosis and the chest X-ray showed a calcified image on the left cardiac boards caused by a thrombo in the right ventricle wall. Conclusion: the authors emphasize the importance of chest X-ray in the diagnosis of thoracic calcifications, and comment that in spite of the being rare, the cardiac causes should be considered due to the possibility of surgical treatment. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2000; 76(3): 241-5: calcification, congenital heart disease, thoracic radiography. 1. Physician, Pediatric Cardiology Department, Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso. 2. Physician, CARPE. 3. Physician, Pediatric Cardiology Department, Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso. 4. Physician, Pediatric Department at Hospital Municipal da Piedade. 5. Chief, Pediatric Cardiology Department, Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso. Calcifications from cardiac etiology in chest radiography Eliane Lucas 1 , Sergio Ramos 2 , Astolfo Serra 2 , Francisco Chamie 2 , Nathalie Valenzuela 3 , Andrea Teldeschi 4 , Franco Sbaffi 5 Introduction The incidence of congenital cardiopathies in the pediatric population is of approximately 0.3 to 0.8%. In order to obtain the diagnosis, we should use the physical examination along with complementary examinations, which allow an accurate recognition of most of these anomalies, due to the great technological advance of the present days, mainly in echocardiography. We must stress, though, that the simple chest radiography is greatly important, since it provides several information about morphological aspects and cavitary dimensions, and still displays images that may suggest specific cardiac pathologies. Especially, we may find images of calcifications with different locations, such as parenchymal, ganglionar, mediastinal, pleural, and osseous. Findings of thoracic calcifications in infancy are extremely rare, and those of cardiac origin are uncommon. Among cardiac causes, we may point out mediastinal tumors, such as teratoma or fibroma, calcified mural thrombi, aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus or of the pulmonary arteries. 1-4 The tracking of these pathologies through simple chest radiography is very important, since in most cases an early diagnosis makes it possible to perform a definitive surgical treatment.