Tomographic ultrasound imaging for analyzing for the relative orientation of fetal heart and great arteries / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the value of tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) for prenatal analysis of the relative orientation of fetal heart and great arteries. Methods Volume datasets acquired from 12 patients of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and 13 normal fetal heart were evaluated offline with TUI. The aortic valves (AV) and pulmonary valves (PV) were respectively showed on the two parallel slices. According to the pivot point in the middle of the PV in one slice, the relative orientation of the AV on another slices were analyzed. Results In the 12 patients of TGA confirmed postnatally, 7 were concomitant with single ventricle anomaly, AV was on the anterior-right orientation of the PV in 5, and was relatively on the anterior and anterior-left orientation in other 2 of them.In the remained 5 with seeming normal 4 chamber view, AV was found on the anterior-right of the PV in 3, and was relatively on the anterior and upright orientation.in other 2 patients. In 13 normal fetuses, TUI showed that all AV located on the posterior-right orientation to the PV. Conclusion TUI can provide detailed spatial information of the great arteries both in normal and abnormal fetal heart. It may be a convenient and veracious tool for prenatal exploring the morphology of the great arteries.