title: Right ductus arteriosus: facts and theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report fetal right-sided persistent ductus arteriosus (RPDA) in association with right aortic arch (RAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Extensive sonographic fetal anatomical scans were consecutively performed on 19,874 private, self-referred pregnant women who wanted early sonographic detection of fetal anomalies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 19,874 transvaginal (TVS) sonographic examinations 40 fetuses had right aortic arch (RAA) and four of them (10%) had RPDA. We also diagnosed seven cases of RPDA with involvement of the left aortic arch where a right-curving pattern ("L" shape) parallel to the right pulmonary artery was suggestive of Rt. DA with left aortic arch. Only one (9%) of the RPDA cases was associated with a cardiac anomaly (double outlet right ventricle). None of the other eight RPDA cases had any discernible anomalies, and all of the fetuses with RPDA had normal karyotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 10% of the fetuses with right aortic arch the ductal arch was also on the right side. An unusual-looking DA may be a RPDA associated with the left aortic arch. In most cases, the RPDA is a normal variant not associated with other anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Al-Kol Ultrasound Clinic, Dept. of Ob/Gyn, RAMBAM Health Care Campus, The Rappaport Institute & Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bronshtein
authors.forename: Etan Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Shraga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Blumenfeld
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004310:Double Outlet Right Ventricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology