title: Massive myocardial calcification in second-trimester fetuses: antenatal detection and causes.
abstract: Massive myocardial calcifications were detected by antenatal ultrasound examination in four second-trimester fetuses. In one fetus, multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas were the initial diagnosis. One fetus presented with arthrogryposis and the brain and spinal cord showed severe hypoxic-ischemic damage. One fetus was hydropic and had severe cardiac malformations. The fourth fetus had congenital heart block and maternal serum was positive for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Myocardial calcifications in the first three fetuses were most likely to be caused by hypoxic-ischemic damage to the heart, and immunological mechanisms were responsible in the other fetus. Antenatally detected myocardial echogenic foci in a fetus leading to a termination of pregnancy or associated with fetal death should be investigated with a full postmortem examination. It is important to confirm the presence of calcifications as distinct from a rhabdomyoma as genetic counseling is completely different. The demonstration of associated lesions in other organs also helps to explain the pathogenesis underlying this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. yuen.chan@maynegroup.com
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sampson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*