Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 13, Issue 4 291-293, Copyright © 1994 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Clinical significance of isolated fetal pericardial effusion
D. N. Di Salvo, D. L. Brown, P. M. Doubilet, C. B. Benson and M. C. Frates
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Prenatal sonographic identification of a small rim of pericardial fluid,
measuring less than 2 mm in thickness, is a normal finding. Pericardial
fluid 2 mm or greater in thickness may be associated with structural
anomalies or hydrops, but its clinical significance in the absence of these
associated findings has not been evaluated. We assessed the outcome in
fetuses with isolated pericardial effusions of at least 2 mm thick. Our
study population included 52 fetuses with effusions ranging from 2 to 7 mm
in thickness. We compared rates of preterm delivery, cesarean section,
intrauterine growth retardation, perinatal complications, Apgar scores, and
length of neonatal hospital stay in these 52 cases to the overall hospital
rates and found no statistically significant difference. We conclude that
in the absence of other sonographic abnormalities, the finding of a fetal
pericardial fluid collection 2 to 7 mm in thickness is not associated with
adverse outcome.
