Advances in Fetal Cardiac Imaging

摘要

Imaging the fetal heart has evolved considerably since the first report of ultrasonographic visualization of the fetal heart in the early 1970s. From that description of ventricular output inferred from m-mode tracings, one can trace the roots of fetal echocardiography. This article reviews the current state of the art in ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal cardiovascular system. Ultrasound remains the primary imaging modality for evaluating the fetal heart and cardiovascular system. Beginning in the 1980s, commonly used transthoracic cross-sectional views of the heart had been reproduced in utero, and the possibility of prenatal detection of major congenital heart disease was realized. As in utero ultrasonographic evaluations became mainstream, the goal of in utero identification of congenital heart disease was established.