B-flow and B-flow spatio-temporal image correlation in visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of two-dimensional B-flow imaging and four-dimensional (4D) B-flow spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) as real-time three-dimensional technology in visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow.


METHODS
We examined 65 normal singleton fetuses between 21 and 39 weeks of gestation, using VOLUSON 730 Expert ultrasound device with transabdominal 3D/4D transducer. After visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow by two dimensional B-flow mode, B-flow STIC images were acquired .The acquisition angle was 40 degrees and acquisition time 15 s. The cardiac vascular system was analyzed off-line on multiplanar and reconstructed 3D/4D rendered images.


RESULTS
In 38 out of 65 cases, all extracardiac vessels of aortic arch, descending aorta, inferior vena cava, ductus venosus and hepatic vein could be detected on reconstructed 3D/4D images. In all 65 cases, two or more pulmonary veins were easily depicted. On a cardiac back-front view created by rotating 4D reconstructed image, two pulmonary veins among a total of four were depicted in 34 cases (52.3%), three veins in 28 cases (43.1%) and all four pulmonary veins in three cases (4.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
B-flow and/or B-flow STIC allow visualization of fine small vessels with low velocity, such as pulmonary veins, and may have a great potential for detailed detection of an abnormality of small cardiac vessels, such as total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Pooh
Ritsuko K
RK
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Center for Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Kagawa National Children's Hospital, Zentsuji 2603, Zentsuji City Kagawa #765-8501, Japan. rkpooh@guitar.ocn.ne.jp
Korai
Ayaka
A
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D019561:Echocardiography, Four-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*