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Updated: May 3, 2026

Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
Visualization of a Small Ventricular Septal Defect at First-pass Contrast-enhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Francesco Secchi1, Antonello Giardino2, Salvatore Fabiano1
1Department of Radiology, Center of Fetal Cardiology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart disease that accounts for up to 40% of all congenital cardiac malformations. VSD is a connection between right and left ventricle, through the ventricular septum. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help identify this entity. This case presents a 12-year-old male diagnosed with a small muscular apical VSD of 3 mm in diameter, at echocardiography. Cardiac MRI using first-pass perfusion sequence, combining the right plane of acquisition with a short bolus of contrast material, clearly confirmed the presence of VSD.

