Three-vessel view of the fetal heart: in utero development of the great vessels.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study is to provide reference values for the great vessels obtained from images of the three-vessel view of the fetal heart, with an emphasis on the size discrepancy of the great vessels.


METHODS
From February 2003 to May 2003, the main pulmonary artery (MPA), ascending aorta (AA), and SVC were measured in well-dated, nonanomalous fetuses scanned at 14-38 weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
The size of each great vessel had a significant positive relationship with advance in gestation (P < 0.001); MPA (mm) = -2.76 + 0.34 x GA, ascending aorta (AA) (mm) = -1.73 + 0.26 x GA - 1.18E - 05 x GA(3), and SVC (mm) = 0.33 + 0.01 x GA(2) - 4.12E - 05 x GA(3). The AA/MPA ratio was significantly decreased with advance in gestation, while the SVC/AA ratio was significantly increased; AA/MPA ratio = -1.24 - 0.03 x GA + 3.88E - 04 x GA(2); P < 0.001, SVC/AA ratio = 0.63 - 5.43E - 03 x GA + 1.96E - 04 x GA(2); P < 0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
On the three-vessel view of the fetal heart, the interpretation of the size discrepancy of the great vessels needs to be adjusted according to fetal growth.
Moon
Min Hoan
MH
Department of Radiology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Jeong Yeon
JY
Park
Eun Jung
EJ
Min
Jee Yeon
JY
Kim
Jeong-Ah
JA
Jung
Sung Il
SI
Song
Mi Jin
MJ
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*