Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
Chromosomal and cardiac anomalies in fetuses with intracardiac echogenic foci
T R M Gonçalves1, M M Zamith, C G V Murta
1Fetal Medicine Unit of Hospital e Maternidade Santa Joana, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. telmarmg@uol.com.br
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of intracardiac echogenic foci (ICEF) and the association between ICEF and chromosomal and cardiac anomalies in Brazilian women.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional observational study, 373 of the 23,360 genetic sonograms performed at a private maternal-fetal medicine clinic over 5 years showed intracardiac echogenic foci (ICEF). These 373 sonograms were reviewed for chromosomal and cardiac anomalies and associations were analyzed using the chi(2) test or the Fisher exact test. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
The prevalence of ICEF was 1.7%. Cardiac anomalies were detected in 10 sonograms (2.7%) and chromosomal anomalies in 14 (3.7%). There were cardiac defects in 6 (1.7%) of the 359 euploid fetuses with isolated ICEF. Of the 373 women who had fetuses with ICEF, 295 were younger than 35 years and 78 were 35 years or older. There were 6 fetuses (2.1%) with aneuploidy in the younger group and 8 (10.3%) in the older group.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of ICEF was 1.7%, and there was an association between cardiac and chromosomal anomalies. Women carrying fetuses with ICEF should be offered fetal echocardiography and karyotyping.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...