title: Fetal echocardiographic findings in right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication (RPALA com) is a fatal congenital heart disease with right-to-left shunting. We present a rare case of RPALA com that was prenatally diagnosed and confirmed by autopsy. We focus on some unique echocardiographic findings for prenatal diagnosis of RPALA com by reviewing our case and the literature. Asymmetric cardiomegaly with a pear sign and dilatation of the pulmonary artery might be useful for screening tests. A larger stalk with the pear sign, high-velocity of shunt flow, and absence of a dilated pulmonary vein might support the prenatal diagnosis of RPALA com.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology and Gynecology , National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center , Suita , Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology and Gynecology , National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center , Suita , Japan.
authors.forename: Takekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pathology , National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center , Suita , Japan.
authors.forename: Taka-Aki
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatric Cardiology , National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center , Suita , Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kurosaki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology and Gynecology , National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center , Suita , Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
mesh_terms: D000025:Abortion, Eugenic; D004452:Echocardiography; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Congenital heart disease; echocardiography; prenatal diagnosis; right pulmonary arteriovenous malformation; right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication