[Major cardiomegalies of the newborn].

Massive enlargement of the heart measured by cardio-thoracic ratio (C.T.R. greater than or equal to 0,75) was found in 17 neonates in the first ten days of their life. The diseases causing this rare anomaly (5% of all newborns with cardiac malformations) were: Ebstein's disease (6 cases), cerebral arterio-venous aneurism (6 cases), primary endocardial fibro-elastosis (2 cases), septic pericarditis, transposition of great arteries and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (1 case of each). A diagnosis scheme is proposed in order to recognize early tractable diseases and to avoid inadequate surgical indications.