title: Natural history of echogenic foci within ventricles of the fetal heart.
abstract: Echogenic foci within the fetal heart have been reported in association with cardiac tumors and chromosomal abnormalities. They have been observed also as a normal variant of cardiac development. The goal of this study was to analyze the frequency, distribution and natural history of echogenic foci within the fetal heart. A total of 1139 patients referred for targeted ultrasound were studied. Patients with positive findings (presence of the echogenic foci) were referred for serial fetal echocardiographic examinations at 26-28 weeks and 34-36 weeks of pregnancy. Neonatal follow-up examinations were performed within the first 3 months of life in 27 cases. Ventricular echogenic foci were seen in 3.6% of fetuses. The locations of the echogenic foci were as follows: left ventricle, 92.8%; right ventricle, 4.8%; both ventricles, 2.4%. All fetuses had a normal karyotype. Echogenic foci remained present in all infants who underwent echocardiographic examination within the first 3 months of life. Echogenic intracardiac foci probably represent a normal variant of the development of papillary muscles and chordae tendinae.
authors.affiliation: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Manhasset, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Petrikovsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Challenger
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wyse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal