title: Three-vessel view of the fetal heart: in utero development of the great vessels.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hoan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jeong Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jee Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Jeong-Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Mi Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: 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*