Author/Authors :
Xie، Zuo-ping نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Zhao، Bo-wen نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound and Echocardiography, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China , , Yuan، Jin-Hua نويسنده , , Hua، Qi-qi نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Jin، She-hong نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Shen، Xiao-yan نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Han، Xin-hong نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Zhou، Jia-mei نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China , , Fang، Xiao-Min نويسنده , , Chen، Jin-hong نويسنده Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China ,
Abstract :
Background: To establish the reference range of the angle between ascending aorta and
main pulmonary artery of fetus in the second and third trimester using spatiotemporal
image correlation (STIC), and to investigate the value of this angle in prenatal screening
of conotruncal defects (CTDs).
Materials and Methods: Volume images of 311 normal fetuses along with 20 fetuses
with congenital heart diseases were recruited in this cross-sectional study. An offline
analysis of acquired volume datasets was carried out with multiplanar mode. The angle
between aorta and pulmonary artery was measured by navigating the pivot point and
rotating axes and the reference range was established. The images of ascending aorta and
main pulmonary artery in fetuses with congenital heart diseases were observed by rotating
the axes within the normal angle reference range.
Results: The angle between ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery of the normal
fetus (range: 59.1?~97.0?, mean ± SD: 78.0? ± 9.7?) was negatively correlated with gestational
age (r = -0.52; p < 0.01). By rotating the normal angle range corresponding to
gestational age, the fetuses with CTD could not display views of their left ventricular
long axis and main pulmonary trunk correctly.
Conclusion: The left ventricular long axis and main pulmonary trunk views can be displayed
using STIC so that the echocardiographic protocol of the cardiovascular joint could
be standardized. The reference range of the angle between ascending aorta and main pulmonary
artery is clinically useful in prenatal screening of CTD and provides a reliable
quantitative standard to estimate the spatial relationship of the large arteries of fetus.
