A New modified anthropometric haller index obtained without radiological exposure

Abstract

To validate a new modified method for measuring the anthropometric Haller index (HI), obtained without radiological exposure. This new method was based on the use of a rigid ruler and of a 2.5 MHz ultrasound transducer for the assessment of latero-lateral and antero-posterior chest diameters, respectively. We enrolled 100 consecutive patients (mean age 67.9 ± 14.5 years, 55% males), who underwent a two-plane CXR, for any clinical indication, over a four-month period. In all patients, the same radiologist calculated the conventional radiological HI (mean value 1.93 ± 0.35) and the same cardiologist used the above described new technique to measure the modified HI (mean value 1.99 ± 0.26). The Bland-Altman analysis showed tight limits of agreement (+ 0.37; - 0.51) between the two measurement methods, with a mild systematic overestimation of the new method as compared to the standard radiological HI. The Pearson's correlation analysis highlighted a strong correlation between the two methods (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), while the Student's t test demonstrated a not statistically difference between the means (p = 0.12). The modified HI might allow a quick description of the chest conformation without radiological exposure and a more immediate comprehension of its possible influence on the cardiac kinetics and function, as assessed by echocardiography or other imaging modalities.

False‐positive electrocardiographic changes during exercise test in a patient with pectus excavatum

“…In the parasternal long-axis view, with the subject in the left lateral decubitus position, B-mode echocardiography showed a narrow (12.8 cm) antero-posterior (A-P) chest diameter ( Figure 1) measured as the distance from the ultrasound probe (apex of the scanning sector) to the anterior surface of the vertebral body identified behind the posterior wall of the descending thoracic aorta, visualized behind the left atrium. 1 At baseline, heart rate (HR) was 70 bpm, blood pressure (BP) was 110/80 mm Hg. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was normal ( Figure 2).…”

“…A 60‐year‐old man with pectus excavatum (PE) (Modified Haller Index 1 = 2.9), without apparent cardiovascular risk factors and without history of coronary artery disease (CAD), was referred to our outpatient cardiology department to perform conventional two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D‐TTE) and exercise stress test (EST) because of palpitations. His medical history was otherwise unremarkable.…”

Three-Dimensional Optical Imaging for Pectus Excavatum Assessment

“…Further studies are needed to compare measurements from different modalities (CT, chest roentgenogram, optical imaging) at different points in the breath cycle. Sonaglioni and colleagues 32 proposed measuring the anthropometric Haller index using a rigid ruler and ultrasound. Their group demonstrated strong correlation, as well, between their anthropometric Haller index vs the traditional rHI (r ¼ 0.81, P < 0.0001).…”

Cardiovascular imaging 2018 in the International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging

“…Finally, Sonaglioni et al validated a new modified method for measuring the anthropometric Haller index (HI), obtained without radiological exposure [11]. This index is used to assess chest conformation and pectus excavatum (PE).…”