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

Abstract

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.

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

“…18 The upper limit was defined as 34th week because after this period, the fetus position on the back and imaging artifacts from the ribs are more common, hampering or even preventing the adequate analysis of the 4D fetal heart volume. [10][11][12][13] There was no significant variation in fetal heart geometry with advancing GA. Only two studies have defined objective methods for the evaluation of fetal heart geometry using 3D ultrasound. 8,19 Espinoza et al 8 conducted a cross-sectional study with 85 4D fetal heart volumes by STIC in the multiplanar mode of normal fetuses at 12-40 weeks of gestation and evaluated the angles between the ductal arch and aortic arch, between the ductal arch and thoracic arch, and between the outlet from the left ventricle and main pulmonary artery.…”

“…STIC rendering with a low level of transparency can be applied to the fetal heart using the interface between the cardiac cavities and walls, allowing improved cardiac imaging compared with two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound . In addition, STIC rendering has been applied to measure the areas of the annulus of the atrioventricular valves, intraventricular septum, papillary muscles of the atrioventricular valves, and myocardium of the fetal heart ventricles …”

“…imaging compared with two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound. 9 In addition, STIC rendering has been applied to measure the areas of the annulus of the atrioventricular valves, 10 intraventricular septum, 11 papillary muscles of the atrioventricular valves, 12 and myocardium of the fetal heart ventricles. 13 The objective of this study was to evaluate fetal heart geometry during pregnancy using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound and the STIC rendering mode.…”

4D Fetal Echocardiography in Clinical Practice

“…Rolo et al 39 determined the viewing rate and the reference values for the area of the papillary muscles of the atrioventricular valves in the fetal heart. The authors transversally evaluated 310 single pregnancies between 18 and 34 weeks.…”

4D fetal echocardiography—An update

“…From the STIC acquisition, three‐dimensional voxels were created that had an X, Y, and Z component, resulting in three simultaneously displayed images referred to as the A, B, and C planes (Figure ). Following the first publication describing the STIC technique, numerous studies have been reported describing the use of this technique for evaluation of fetal cardiovascular structures and function …”