title: Continuous transverse scanning of the fetal heart using a cross-sectional image database of common fetal congenital heart deformities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an anatomical basis for continuous transverse scanning of the fetal heart by analyzing the typical cross-sectional characteristics of different types of congenital heart deformities (CHDs) using an anatomical image database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The database consisted of cross-sectional images obtained from 45 cases of common fetal CHDs, which were continuously displayed by the three-dimensional software Amira 5.3.1. The following anatomical parts were observed from the database of heart samples in a bottom-to-top manner: the coronary sinus, four chambers, left ventricular outflow tract, right ventricular outflow tract, and transverse ductal and aortic arches. The anatomical characteristics of these sections were analyzed and compared with the ultrasonic transverse views obtained from the same fetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the display of the anatomical database of 45 cases of common fetal CHDs, the aforementioned typical cross sections were successively revealed, along with the corresponding pathological features. These sections also exhibited a very good correspondence with the ultrasonic transverse views of the same cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The database of cross-sectional anatomical images of fetal CHDs provided an anatomical basis for continuous transverse scanning of the fetal heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric Ultrasound, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking, 100044, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Juan
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric Ultrasound, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking, 100044, China. Electronic address: qiuyanpeicn@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiu-Yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric Ultrasound, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking, 100044, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric Ultrasound, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking, 100044, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Xue
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D054326:Coronary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004452:Echocardiography; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010781:Photography; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: anatomical database; congenital heart deformity; continuously transverse scan; cross sections; fetus