ABSTRACT
Objective To describe the characteristics of the criss-cross heart with comprehensively segmental echocardiographic scanning in order to explore the diagnostic value of the echocardiography.Methods Ten cases of criss-cross heart were retrospectively reviewed with 2-dimensional,color Doppler echocardiography to summarize the main diagnostic methods.Results The right ventricle was located superiorly and the left ventricle inferiorly in 9 patients and paralleled alignment in 1.The solitus situs was observed in 9 patients and dextrocardia in 1;the atrioventricular connections were concordant in 8 patients and discordant in 2.Echocardiography revealed that 5 patients presented with transposition of great artery and 5 with double outlet of right ventricle as well as all with ventricular septum defect.Conclusions Clear visualization is available with echocardiography to show the crossing inflow streams at the level of atrial-ventricular valve,abnormal alignment of the ventricular septum as well as the associated abnormalities.