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Prenatal echocardiographic differential diagnosis of fetal cardiac tumors
Author(s) -
Zhou Q. C.,
Fan P.,
Peng Q. H.,
Zhang M.,
Fu Z.,
Wang C. H.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.979
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , intracardiac injection , rhabdomyoma , differential diagnosis , echogenicity , teratoma , lipoma , ventricle , in utero , fetal echocardiography , radiology , prenatal diagnosis , fibroma , pregnancy , pathology , cardiology , tuberous sclerosis , ultrasonography , genetics , biology
Objectives To present data on echocardiographic findings of fetal cardiac tumors and discuss their differential diagnoses. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 14 cases of fetal echogenic cardiac mass diagnosed between 1990 and 2003; 12 were confirmed to be cardiac tumors and two were false‐positive diagnoses. The echocardiographic characteristics examined included number, size, location and associated complications. Results Eight fetuses had a single tumor and four fetuses had multiple tumors. The left ventricle was most often affected. Parents of eight fetuses opted for termination of pregnancy, one fetus died in utero and three affected fetuses survived. Histopathological examination revealed cardiac rhabdomyoma in six fetuses, fibroma in two, teratoma in two, lipoma in one and hemangioma in one. The pitfalls associated with prenatal echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac tumors include: they may be too small to be visualized, intracardiac echogenic foci may mimic tumors, and echogenicity resulting from extracardiac structures or neoplasms near the heart may falsely appear as tumors. Conclusion Fetal cardiac tumors can be detected by echocardiography. However, differential diagnosis is important as this will affect prognosis and subsequent management. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.