title: Reference ranges for the volumes of fetal cardiac ventricular walls by three-dimensional ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation and virtual organ computer-aided analysis and its validation in fetuses with congenital heart diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish reference values for the volumes of fetal cardiac ventricular walls using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) and perform data validation using fetuses with confirmed congenital heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, cross-sectional study analyzed 371 singleton pregnancies between 20w0d and 33w6d of gestation. Ventricular volumes were assessed using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL). We calculated the polynomial regressions, adjusted by the coefficient of determination (R(2) ). To assess intra-observer concordance, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used. To validate the curves, the ventricular wall volumes of 22 fetuses with CHD were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a good correlation between these mean volumes and gestational age, and this correlation was best represented by linear equations. Intra-observer concordance in assessing the volumes of the right (ICC = 0.90) and left ventricular walls (ICC = 0.97) was good. We observed that the volumes of the right and left ventricular walls were altered (<5(th) percentile and/or >95(th) percentile) in 8/22 fetuses presenting with CHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reference ranges for the volumes of the right and left ventricular walls by 3DUS using STIC and VOCAL between 20w0d and 33w6d of gestation were determinate, and they exhibited good intra-observer concordance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Silveira Bello
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Liliam Cristine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: Luciane Alves
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Wellington P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
authors.forename: Fabrício
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Da Silva Costa
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult