Prenatal diagnosis of fetal conotruncal defects by using 2D ultrasound and HD live flow combined with spatiotemporal image correlation

Introduction: To explore the diagnostic value of spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) for different types of fetal conotruncal defects (CTDs). Methods: The clinical data and STIC images of 174 fetuses with CTDs diagnosed via prenatal ultrasound were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 174 cases of CTDs, 58 were tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); 30, transposition of great arteries (TGA) (D-TGA, 23 cases; cc-TGA, 7 cases); 26, double outlet of the right ventricle (DORV); 32, persistent arterial trunk (PTA) (type A1, 15 cases; type A2, 11 cases; type A3, 5 cases; type A4, 1 case); and 28, pulmonary atresia (PA) (ventricular septal defect, 24 cases; ventricular septal integrity, 4 cases). Among the cases, 156 were complicated with complex congenital intracardiac and extracardiac malformations. The abnormal display rate of the four-chamber view of two-dimensional echocardiography was low. The display rate of the permanent arterial trunk was the highest (90.6%) in STIC imaging. Conclusions: STIC imaging can be used in the diagnosis of different types of CTDs, especially in persistent arterial trunks, and thus has great value for the clinical treatment and prognosis of these defects.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) for different types of fetal conotruncal defects (CTDs). The clinical data and STIC images of 174 fetuses with CTDs were analyzed retrospectively. STIC imaging can be used in the diagnosis of different types of CTDs, especially persistent arterial trunks.