Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 1 1-9, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Three-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of fetal heart anatomy and function: acquisition, analysis, and display
T. R. Nelson, D. H. Pretorius, M. Sklansky and S. Hagen-Ansert
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego 92093-0610, USA.
The purpose of this work was to assess the functional dynamics and anatomy
of the cardiac chambers and great vessels in the fetus (18 to 36 weeks)
using in utero three-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging. Fifteen patients
were studied using conventional two-dimensional sonographic equipment
incorporating a position sensor attached to the transducer and a graphics
workstation. Sonographic image data were acquired at 30 images per second
and required less than 30 seconds per data set. Fetal heart rate and time
in the cardiac cycle were determined and used to synchronize image data for
reprojection into a volume at the appropriate part of the cardiac cycle.
Volume data were analyzed, rendered, and displayed interactively.
Three-dimensional sonographic volume data demonstrated fetal cardiac
anatomy from multiple orientations and showed the myocardium, valves,
ventricles, and atria clearly. The images showed good correlation with
currently available embryologic-anatomic-pathologic data. Dynamic and
spatial relationships among chambers, valves, and great vessels were
readily appreciated. Three-dimensional sonographic imaging of the fetal
heart provides both anatomic and functional information regarding the
valves, myocardium, great vessels, and chamber dynamics. Interactive
three-dimensional cinegraphic display enhances visualization of cardiac
anatomy, which can be difficult to appreciate with two-dimensional methods.
The methods presented in this work demonstrate the feasibility of
three-dimensional fetal echocardiography.
