Key result
Advances in fetal echocardiography, including myocardial deformation imaging, cardiac MRI, and 3D printing, offer new methods for evaluating fetal cardiac structure and function.
Why the study?
Recent advances in ultrasound and imaging technology have made it possible to apply modalities such as myocardial deformation imaging, cardiac MRI, and 3D printing to evaluate fetal cardiac structure and function.
Advances in fetal echocardiography, including myocardial deformation imaging, MRI, and 3D printing, enhance the evaluation of fetal cardiac structure and function, potentially improving prenatal counseling and planning.
May support refined fetal cardiac assessment; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Advances in ultrasound technology have led to new ways of evaluating cardiac function and structure, including myocardial deformation imaging (strain and strain rate), cardiac MRI and three-dimensional (3D) printing. As ultrasound technology has improved, it has become possible to use these modalities to evaluate the fetal heart. This article will review some of the more recent developments in applying these techniques to the evaluation of fetal cardiac structure and function. RECENT FINDINGS: Myocardial deformation analyses have led to the establishment of normative values for strain and strain rate in the fetal heart and have also been used to evaluate fetal heart function in both fetal disease states and maternal disease states. Technological advances in MRI technology, 3D imaging and 3D printing have opened up new methods of evaluating fetal structural heart disease. SUMMARY: A deeper understanding of the subtleties of myocardial dysfunction in various fetal and maternal disease states may elucidate the pathophysiology involved and lead to new treatment and/or counseling paradigms that may ultimately affect outcome. Similarly, the ability to image the fetal heart in new ways, including fetal MRI and 3D printing, could potentially change fetal counseling techniques and prenatal planning.
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Sarah Chambers Gurson (2018) conducted a review in Fetal structural heart disease and myocardial dysfunction. Advanced fetal echocardiography (myocardial deformation imaging, cardiac MRI, 3D printing) was evaluated. Advances in fetal echocardiography, including myocardial deformation imaging, cardiac MRI, and 3D printing, offer new methods for evaluating fetal cardiac structure and function.
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