Evaluation of fetal heart geometry during pregnancy by three-dimensional ultrasound using the STIC rendering mode.

OBJECTIVE: To determine fetal heart geometry during pregnancy using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound and the spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) rendering mode. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study evaluated 250 normal singleton pregnancies from 20 to 33 weeks and 6 days of gestation. STIC rendering was used to calculate the eight angles of the fetal heart: apex, base, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, left ventricle, right ventricle, left atrium, and right atrium angles. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used for intra- and inter-observer tests. RESULTS: The average ± SD maternal age was 31.7 ± 4.9 years, and the average gestational age was 26.3 ± 4.2 weeks. There was little variation in fetal heart angles using STIC rendering according to the gestational age, with determination coefficient (R2 ) values of 0.01 for the apex and mitral valve angles and <0.01 for the base, tricuspid valve, left ventricle, right ventricle, left atrium, and right atrium angles. Moderate/good intra- and inter-observer concordance was observed for the measurement of fetal heart angles using STIC rendering, and the obtained CCC varied from 0.74 to 0.93. CONCLUSION: The fetal heart geometry did not present significant variations during pregnancy using 3D ultrasound and the STIC rendering mode.

Reference Ranges of Fetal Cardiac Biometric Parameters Using Three-Dimensional Ultrasound with Spatiotemporal Image Correlation M Mode and Their Applicability in Congenital Heart Diseases.

To determine reference values for fetal heart biometric parameters using the spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) M mode and their applicability in congenital heart diseases (CHDs). A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted with 300 singleton pregnancies between 20 and 33 + 6 weeks of gestation. Right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), and left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) were measured off-line using the STIC-M mode with the cursor perpendicular to the interventricular septum. Polynomial regressions adjusted with the coefficient of determination (R 2) were performed. The curves were applied to 14 fetuses with structural CHD. For the reproducibility calculations, the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used. The mean RVWT, IVST, and LVWT were 0.34 ± 0.09 cm, 0.28 ± 0.09 cm, and 0.30 ± 0.07 cm, respectively. There was correlation between RVWT, IVST, and LVWT and gestational age (GA): RVWT = -0.002 + 0.013 × GA (R 2 = 0.33), IVST = -0.011 + 0.011 × GA (R 2 = 0.25), and LVWT = 0.056 + 0.009 × GA (R 2 = 0.26). RVWT, IVST, and LVWT were altered (<5th or >95th percentile) in 5/14, 5/14, and 7/14 of the fetuses with CHD, respectively. For RVWT, IVST, and LVWT, intra-observer (CCC = 0.86, 0.85, and 0.87, respectively) and inter-observer (CCC = 0.86, 0.86, and 0.86, respectively) reproducibility were good/moderate. The reference ranges determined for fetal heart biometric parameters using STIC-M had good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility and were applicable to fetuses with CHD.

Reference values for the volumes of foetal heart atrial wall by three-dimensional ultrasound using STIC and VOCAL methods between 20w0d and 33w6d weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish reference values for the volumes of foetal heart atrial wall by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) methods. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study with 170 normal singleton pregnancies between 20 weeks + 0 days (20w0d) and 33 weeks + 6 days (33w6d) of gestation. Foetal heart atrial wall volume was obtained by VOCAL method with 30-degree rotation (six planes) subtracting the internal volume from the atrium volume. Polynomial regression with adjustments by determination coefficient (R(2)) was performed. To calculate the interobserver reproducibility, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was applied. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for the left atrium wall volume (cm(3)) ranged from 0.54 ± 0.21 at 20w0d-20w6d to 2.17 ± 0.30 at 33w0d-33w6d. The mean ± SD for the right atrium wall volume (cm(3)) ranged from 0.45 ± 0.16 at 20w0d-20w6d to 2.17 ± 0.62 at 33w0d-33w6d. We observed a satisfactory interobserver reproducibility with CCC = 0.69 and 0.58 for the left and right volumes of foetal heart atrial wall, respectively. The best-fit models were first-degree: volume for the left atrium wall = -2.194 + 0.139*GA (R(2 )=( )0.41) and volume for the right atrium wall = -2.757 + 0.155*GA (R(2 )=( )0.37). CONCLUSION: Reference values for the volumes of foetal heart atrial wall by 3D ultrasound using STIC and VOCAL methods between 20w0d and 33w6d weeks of gestation were established.

Fetal myocardial wall area: constructing a reference range by means of spatiotemporal image correlation in the rendering mode.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reference range of the myocardial wall area in the fetus using three-dimensional ultrasound in the rendering mode. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study including 371 singleton, uncomplicated pregnancies at 20 weeks 0 day to 33 weeks 6 days of gestation was carried out. Cardiac volumes were obtained using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) at the level of the four-chamber view. The end-diastolic myocardial area of the both ventricles was measured manually. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess intra- and interobserver concordance. RESULTS: The mean myocardial area of the fetal right ventricular (RV) wall ranged from 0.86 ± 0.23 cm(2) at 20 weeks 0 day to 2.75 ± 0.69 cm(2) at 33 weeks 6 days of gestation. The mean myocardial area of the fetal left ventricular (LV) wall ranged from 0.82 ± 0.20 cm(2) at 20 weeks 0 day to 2.49 ± 0.59 cm(2) at 33 weeks 6 days of gestation. In addition, intra- and interobserver concordance for the myocardial area of the RV and LV walls was good, with ICC values of 0.94, 0.95, 0.85, and 0.93, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The reference range for the myocardial area of the RV and LV walls was determined by cardio-STIC in the rendering mode at 20 weeks 0 day to 33 weeks 6 days of gestation, with good concordance between values.

Assessment of Quality of Fetal Heart Views by 3D/4D Ultrasonography Using Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation in the Second and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of fetal heart views by three-dimensional/four-dimensional (3D/4D) ultrasonography using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted at a single referral service for the screening of congenital heart diseases (CHDs), with pregnant women at 20-30 weeks' gestation with a normal fetal heart. 3D/4D STIC were obtained from the fetal heart screening in the following views: four-chamber (4C), left and right ventricular outflow tracts (LVOT and RVOT), 3 vessels and trachea (3VT), aortic arch (AA), and ductal arch (DA). We categorized the images as satisfactory or unsatisfactory and performed McNemar's test to evaluate the differences between the two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and 3D/4D STIC techniques. The inter-observer concordance was obtained by kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The rate of satisfactory fetal heart views using 3D/4D STIC was 54% by using 4 planes (4C, RVOT, LVOT, and 3VT) and 14% by using 6 planes (4C, RVOT, LVOT, 3VT, AA, and DA). In contrast, 100% of the 2D echocardiography images were satisfactory (McNemar's test, P < 0.001). We observed moderate inter-observer concordance to both 4- and 6 planes (κ = 0.56 and 0.43, respectively). CONCLUSION: The quality of the main fetal heart views by 3D/4D STIC still present some limitations compared with the 2D echocardiography.

Viewing rate and reproducibility of papillary muscle areas in foetal atrioventricular valves using spatio-temporal image correlation in the rendering mode in congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the viewing rate and reproducibility of areas of the papillary muscles (PMs) of foetal atrioventricular valves using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) in the rendering mode in congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 40 4D-STIC volume datasets from different foetal CHD cases at a gestational age of 18w6d­35w6d. The following papillary muscles (PMs) were assessed: antero-lateral (MPAL) and postero-medial (MPPM) to the mitral valve and antero-superior (MPAS), inferior (MPI) and septal (MPS) to the tricuspid valve. To assess the valve viewing rate, percentages (%) were used. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used to assess inter-observer reliability. RESULTS: Two independent observers concluded that a complete examination of the PMs was impossible in 11 cases, yielding a viewing rate of 72.5%. The complete examination of the PMs of the tricuspid and mitral valves was possible by both examiners in 33/40 (82.5%) and 32/40 (80.0%) cases, respectively. We observed moderate to good inter-observer reliability with CCCs of 0.95, 0.92, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.97 for MPS, MPI, MPAS, MPAL and MPPM, respectively. CONCLUSION: The viewing rate of PM areas in different CHDs using STIC in the rendering mode was moderate. The inter-observer reproducibility was moderate to good for all PM areas.

Reference ranges for the volumes of fetal cardiac ventricular walls by three-dimensional ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation and virtual organ computer-aided analysis and its validation in fetuses with congenital heart diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To establish reference values for the volumes of fetal cardiac ventricular walls using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) and perform data validation using fetuses with confirmed congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study analyzed 371 singleton pregnancies between 20w0d and 33w6d of gestation. Ventricular volumes were assessed using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL). We calculated the polynomial regressions, adjusted by the coefficient of determination (R(2) ). To assess intra-observer concordance, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used. To validate the curves, the ventricular wall volumes of 22 fetuses with CHD were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between these mean volumes and gestational age, and this correlation was best represented by linear equations. Intra-observer concordance in assessing the volumes of the right (ICC = 0.90) and left ventricular walls (ICC = 0.97) was good. We observed that the volumes of the right and left ventricular walls were altered (<5(th) percentile and/or >95(th) percentile) in 8/22 fetuses presenting with CHD. CONCLUSION: The reference ranges for the volumes of the right and left ventricular walls by 3DUS using STIC and VOCAL between 20w0d and 33w6d of gestation were determinate, and they exhibited good intra-observer concordance.

Viewing rate and reference ranges for papillary muscle areas of the fetal heart using four-dimensional ultrasound in the rendering mode.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to assess the viewing rate and determine reference ranges ​​for the papillary muscle areas in the fetal atrio-ventricular valves using four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound and spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) in the rendering mode. METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective study included 310 4D STIC volume data sets of normal fetuses between 18 weeks 0 day and 34 weeks 0 day of gestation. The papillary muscles were antero-lateral (MPAL) and postero-medial (MPPM) to the mitral valve and antero-superior (MPAS), inferior (MPI) and septal (MPS) to the tricuspid valve. Polynomial regressions were built to determine the reference ranges, and adjustments were made using the determination coefficient (R(2) ). To assess inter-observer reproducibility, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used. RESULTS: Identification of the papillary muscles was possible in 89.3% patients. The best-fit regression equations between papillary muscle areas and gestational age were second degree. The inter-observer reproducibility was good (ICC: 0.98 to MPAS, 0.97 to MPI, 0.98 to MPS, 0.98 to MPAL and 0.97 to MPPM). CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the papillary muscles of the fetal valves was possible in most of the 4D STIC volume data sets, enabling the determination of reference ranges using the rendering mode. The reference ranges ​​for the papillary muscle areas were determined.

Prenatal detection of congenital heart diseases: one-year survey performing a screening protocol in a single reference center in Brazil.

Objective. To describe the experience of a tertiary center in Brazil to which patients are referred whose fetuses are at increased risk for congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Methods. This was a cross-sectional observational study. The data was collected prospectively, during the year 2012, through a screening protocol of the fetal heart adapted from the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) guideline. We performed a fetal echocardiogram screening for all pregnant women who were referred to the fetal cardiology outpatient obstetrics clinic of a university hospital. The exams were classified as normal or abnormal. The cases considered abnormal were undergone to a postnatal echocardiogram. We categorized the abnormal fetal heart according to severity in "complex," "significant," "minor," and "others." Results. We performed 271 fetal heart screening. The incidence of abnormal screenings was 9.96% (27 fetuses). The structural CHD when categorized due to severity showed 48.1% (n = 13) of "complex" cases, 18.5% (n = 5) "significant" cases, and 7.4% (n = 2) "minor" cases. The most common referral reason was by maternal causes (67%) followed by fetal causes (33%). The main referral indication was maternal metabolic disease (30%), but there was just one fetus with CHD in such cases (1.2%). CHDs were found in 19/29 fetuses with suspicion of some cardiac abnormality by obstetrician (65.5%). Conclusion. We observed a high rate of CHD in our population. We also found that there was higher incidence of complex cases.

Screening of congenital heart disease in the second trimester of pregnancy: current knowledge and new perspectives to the clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital heart diseases are common in foetuses, with an incidence greater than six times that of chromosomal abnormalities; however, experts in cardiac anatomy have evaluated only the foetuses of pregnant women with increased risk for congenital heart disease. Over the years, it has become clear that congenital heart disease occur in foetuses of low-risk women. In the mid-1980s, a proposal to expand the assessment of cardiac anatomy was presented to obstetricians in order to improve prenatal screening. With the aim to systematise and improve the diagnosis of congenital heart disease in foetuses, the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology established an ultrasound heart examination guideline. In this review, we have described the important features of this guideline and discussed the applications of this tool in clinical practice. METHODS: We performed a literature search of the National Library of Medicine for publications released between 2000 and 2012; we used search terms pertinent to congenital heart disease, such as foetal echocardiography, foetal heart and cardiac screening examination. RESULTS: The guidelines serve as a standard and help to systematise the screening for congenital heart diseases, but we think that some topics may be added to design the most appropriate screening method. However, we cannot expand the topics to be evaluated in this examination without good training of sonographers who undergo this screening. CONCLUSION: Although the screening standardisation is a good tool to be used in day-to-day practice, the increment of aortic and ductal archs and colour Doppler to heart screening could be useful to detect further cardiac defects.

Comparison of Fetal Cerebellum and Cisterna Magna Length by 2D and 3D Ultrasonography between 18 and 24 Weeks of Pregnancy.

To compare the fetal cerebellum and cisterna magna length measurements by means of two- (2DUS) and three-dimensional (3DUS) ultrasonography using the three-dimensional extended imaging (3D XI), a cross-sectional study with 69 healthy pregnant women between 18 and 24 weeks was performed. For the measurements by 2DUS, the axial planes were used and for the 3DUS a sequence of adjacent axial slices (multislice view). To evaluate the difference between the two techniques, we used the Wilcoxon test. To evaluate the correlation between the cerebellum and cisterna magna length measurements and the gestational age, we used the Spearman correlation coefficient (r). For the calculation of reproducibility, we used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The mean of the transverse and anterior-posterior diameter of cerebellum and cisterna magna by 3DUS was 9.23 and 6.62 mm, respectively. It was observed that the average of the measurements obtained by 3DUS was significantly higher, 0.76 and 1.02 mm for the length of the cerebellum and cisterna magna, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a high correlation between the length measurement of the cerebellum 3D (r = 0.940, P < 0.001), but low correlation of cisterna magna 3D (r = 0.462, P = 0.080) with the gestational age. There was good intra- and interobserver reproducibility for the cerebellum and cisterna magna 3D with ICC = 0.792 , 0.668, 0.691, and 0.287, respectively. The measurements of the fetal cerebellum and cisterna magna length by 3DUS using the software 3D XI were significantly higher than those obtained by 2DUS.

Prenatal diagnosis of Ebstein's anomaly using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) and inversion mode.

BACKGROUND: Ebstein's anomaly is a rare cardiac defect where the septal and posterior leaflets are displaced, towards the right ventricle. The leaflets are dysplastic and stuck to the ventricular wall. Its antenatal diagnosis is usually made through bidimensional echocardiography, which also has prognostic value. Recently, the technological breakthrough of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) offered new diagnostic tools for congenital heart defects, less dependent on the ultrasonographer experience, when compared to two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US). The spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) technique allows the acquisition of the fetal heart volume and its structures as a 4D cineloop sequence showing the complete cardiac cycle. Inversion mode is a new image analysis tool for the examination of fluid-filled fetal structures that inverts the gray scale. CASE REPORT: We present a case of Ebstein's anomaly diagnosed at 26 weeks of pregnancy through bidimensional echocardiography. We emphasize its main findings in 3D-US using the STIC and inversion mode techniques.