ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the application of automated four-dimensional (4D) volume color Doppler ultrasonography in normal fetal heart screening. Methods Four-dimensional volume color Doppler was acquired at the level of four chamber view level in 120 fetuses from 18 to 23 weeks of gestation. Three diagnostic planes including color Doppler information were retrieved by automated multiplanar imaging from the 4D volumes. The left ventricular outflow view (cardiac plane 1), the right ventricular outflow view (cardiac plane 2) and ductal arch view (cardiac plane 3) were acquired. Tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) was added to display all the three diagnostic planes. The data were then analyzed to determine whether cardiac planes 1-3 were displayed correctly in each volume. Results Automated 4D volume color Doppler ultrasonography displaying rate of cardiac plane 1, cardiac plane 2, cardiac plane 3 were 100%, 96.67% and 91.67%, respectively. Cardiac plane 1 was displayed at least three TUI plane, cardiac plane 2 was displayed at least two TUI plane, and cardiac plane 3 was displayed at least two TUI plane. Conclusion It is possible to acquire important planes of the fetal heart with automated 4D volume color Doppler ultrasonography and the visualization rate of the three diagnostic planes is fine.
