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F79Real‐time three‐dimensional fetal echocardiography
Author(s) -
Tutschek B.,
Buck T.,
Reihs T.,
Staiger H. F.,
Henrich W.,
Bender H. G.,
Erbel R.
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00015-1-79.x
Subject(s) - fetal echocardiography , medicine , volume (thermodynamics) , artificial intelligence , computer vision , cardiac cycle , ultrasound , data acquisition , biomedical engineering , radiology , computer science , fetus , cardiology , prenatal diagnosis , physics , pregnancy , genetics , quantum mechanics , biology , operating system
Background Fetal echocardiography employs high resolution two‐dimensional ultrasound (2DE) to detect structural heart disease. Three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) using reconstruction of a series of 2D images of the fetal heart has been hampered by technical problems. Real‐time 3DE (rt3DE) acquires volume data sets rather than 2D images. Method The rt3DE system (Volumetrics, Durham) uses a 2.5‐MHz matrix phased‐array transducer scanning a pyramidal volume. A multipanel screen displays cross‐sectional images of the same volume in real‐time: two perpendicular 2D images that can be freely oriented throughout 3‐D space plus up to three calculated sections not obtainable by 2DE. Results rt3DE could visualize the fetal heart satisfactorily. Due to real‐time volumetric scanning gating with the fetal cardiac cycle was not necessary. The image quality with regard to resolution was inferior to current high end 2D machines, but is bound to improve with technology. Volumes can also include color Doppler, but at the cost of low frame rates. Conclusion With advancing technology volume rather than 2D data acquisition may emerge as a standard in fetal echocardiography. While examining one or two technically and physically optimized 2D views, the entire pyramidal volume surrounding these planes is acquired in real time. The dissociation of rapid data acquisition from its interpretation may be advantageous, enabling ‘virtual scanning’ for different aspects even without the patient present.