title: Clinical outcomes of prenatally diagnosed cases of isolated and nonisolated pericardial effusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of fetal pericardial effusion (PE).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved a retrospective review of prenatally diagnosed PE cases. The criterion for inclusion was pericardial fluid in an area greater than 2 mm in diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 276 cases of PE and 252 cases diagnosed with other anomalies were initially reviewed. PE is associated with cardiac malformation, hydrops fetalis, extracardiac abnormalities, infections, anemias, intrauterine growth restriction, and aneuploidy markers in fetuses. Of these reviewed cases, 24 cases of isolated fetal PE were studied. In all cases, pericardial fluid filled an area ranging from 2 to 17 mm in diameter. Four cases of isolated PE had an abnormal postnatal condition, and 3 cases were excluded due to lack of follow-up. The size of the PE was not related to the regression of pericardial fluid, adverse outcomes or mortality rate associated with the isolated PE. All newborns were healthy, and there were no chromosomal abnormalities in the study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no adverse clinical outcomes or chromosomal abnormalities in the fetuses diagnosed with isolated PE. Most cases of isolated PE resolved spontaneously and were associated with a good prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kyeong
authors.forename: Hye-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Pil Ryang
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ahm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography