title: Early fetal echocardiography--a reliable prenatal diagnosis tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and to report the detection rate of cardiac anomalies with fetal echocardiography before 16 weeks' gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective and prospective study of 160 early fetal echocardiograms. The mean gestational age was 13.5 weeks' gestation (range 11-15+6). All women had a repeat echocardiogram at 18 weeks' gestation and pregnancy outcome was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, a cardiac 4-chamber view was obtained. The atrioventricular valves were accurately seen in 154 (96%) cases; the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery were visualized in 152 cases (95%). Overall, a satisfactory cardiac examination was feasible in 152 of cases (95%). There were 20 cardiac defects in this cohort (12.5%), 14 showed abnormalities at the time of the early ultrasound, whereas 6 were reported as normal. The sensitivity of early fetal echocardiography in this high-risk population was 70%, specificity 98%, positive predictive value 87.5%, and negative predictive value 96%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fetal heart can be examined early in pregnancy and a significant proportion of major cardiac defects identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Fionnuala M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trines
authors.forename: Lynne E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nield
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chitayat
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaeggi
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Hornberger
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal