title: Fetal cardiac function assessed by spatio-temporal image correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound have been proposed to be valuable tools for the examination of fetal heart. Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) is a technique that adds a time component to 3D ultrasound imaging of the fetal heart, so we can evaluate cardiac structures as a 4D cine sequence containing information of one full cardiac cycle. STIC gives the investigator the opportunity to freeze the displayed cardiac loop in end-diastolic and end-systolic phases. By STIC, 3D measurements of both the left and right ventricle can be used to calculate fetal heart stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection fraction, and expressions of cardiac function. The ultimate goal of STIC technique is to improve fetal cardiac function analysis by decreasing the dependency on operator skills required by two-dimensional ultrasound.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In this article, we describe literature practical approach for the examination of the fetal heart function using 4D ultrasound by STIC technique.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simioni
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Liliam Cristine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: Ohanna Ana
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Terasaka
authors.forename: Marina Maccagnano
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zamith
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D019561:Echocardiography, Four-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal