Normal age-related alterations on chest radiography. A longitudinal investigation.

To ascertain serial changes on chest radiography attributable to aging, 16 parameters and 4 pulmonary parenchymal manifestations were assessed at 2 intervals; namely, 18.5 and 10 years after initial radiography in healthy men (n = 51) and women (n = 149) (age range 41-82 years). The transverse cardiac diameter, cardiothoracic ratio, and aortic arch transverse diameter increased significantly in both sexes from the initial to the final examinations. Although several other factors changed significantly, these changes were relatively small and the individual variations large. Initially, 13% and finally, 27% of the subjects exhibited at least one of the selected pulmonary manifestations.