ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical value of fetal echocardiography in prenatal diagnosis of partial and intermediate atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). MethodsUltrasound images of11casesof partialandintermediateAVSDconfirmedbyautopsy orpostnatal echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed and the characteristics were summarized. Results Fetal echocardiography of seven cases of partial AVSD and four cases of intermediate AVSD at fourchamber view showed ostium primum atrial septal defect and the mitral and tricuspid valves attaching at the same level on the interventricular septum. Atrio-ventricular valves took on a straight, bar-liked appearance when closed and constituted a “T” shape with interventricular septum. One partial AVSD case showed left ventricle-right atrium canal. All intermediate AVSD cases showed upper ventricular septal defect. There were four cases associated with mitral reflux, one associated with mitral and tricuspid reflux and one with bilateral radius absence. Conclusions “T” shape image is of great clinical value in prenatal diagnosis of fetal partial and intermediate AVSD. The coronary sinus may lead to false positive diagnosis.