Two‐ and four‐dimensional echocardiography with high‐definition flow imaging and spatiotemporal image correlation in the diagnosis of fetal isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Abstract

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) is a rare malformation. We describe a case of PAPVC, in which the left pulmonary veins coursed to the left innominate vein through a vertical vein and finally drained into the right superior vena cava; the right pulmonary veins were connected to the left atrium. Tracing the origin and destination of abnormal vessels presented at the three-vessel and trachea view is useful for the diagnosis. Four-dimensional echocardiography with high-definition flow imaging and spatiotemporal image correlation facilitates the identification of the drainage of fetal pulmonary veins, which should be considered as a complementary modality in obstetric ultrasonic examination when cardiac abnormalities are suspected.

Utility of a modified vascular corrosion casting technique in the diagnosis of fetal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

“…TAPVC can be accurately diagnosed after birth by combining 2-dimensional echocardiography with color Doppler imaging. However, prenatal diagnosis remains a clinical challenge, and there have few studies addressing this issue 11 , 15 , 16 . In the early stage of pregnancy, fetal blood mostly circulates through the ductus arteriosus and only a small portion of pulmonary blood flows into the left atrium via the PV; as no hemodynamic changes are observed at this time, diagnosing TAPVC is difficult.…”