title: 3D real-time imaging of the fetal heart.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of a novel 3D scanner system for real-time 3D fetal echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 13 single, healthy 20- to 24-week-old fetuses were examined with conventional 2D and real-time 3D echocardiography. The visualization rates and imaging quality of standard cardiac views were compared between both methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visualization rates of standard cardiac planes were found to be slightly increased and more easily obtainable in 3D imaging whereas the image quality showed better results with conventional 2D echocardiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that real-time 3D fetal echocardiography can be considered a useful tool in the evaluation of the fetal heart with the necessity for further refinement of the resolution quality
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinborn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies