[New diagnostic methods and modalities for congenital heart disease]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Prenatal Diagnosis

Background:

• Ultrasound technology for cardiovascular imaging has advanced significantly, including real-time 3D echocardiography and intracardiac echocardiography.
• 3D echocardiography plays a crucial role in assessing congenital heart diseases (CHD).
• Current prenatal screening for CHD in Japan is less efficient compared to some Western nations, leading to increased referrals and diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for improved prenatal screening programs for congenital heart diseases in Japan.
• To emphasize the growing number of fetal echocardiography referrals and CHD diagnoses.
• To advocate for the advancement and adoption of new diagnostic modalities for fetal CHD.

Main Methods:

• Review of current trends in fetal echocardiography referrals and CHD diagnoses in Japan.
• Assessment of the impact of 3D echocardiography on CHD evaluation.
• Analysis of the efficiency of existing prenatal screening systems for CHD.

Main Results:

• There has been a year-over-year increase in patient referrals for fetal echocardiography.
• The number of fetal CHD diagnoses has also risen annually.
• The gestational age at referral and diagnosis for CHD has notably increased in recent years.

Conclusions:

• Simpler prenatal primary screening programs for CHD are essential to improve patient prognosis.
• Further development and familiarization with advanced diagnostic modalities are required for better fetal CHD management.