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Feasibility assessment for successfully visualizing the fetal heart utilizing spatiotemporal image correlation
Eisuke Inubashiri1, Sayuri Tatedo2, Naomi Nishiyama3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Toho Hospital, Kita 17, Higashi 15, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 065-0017, Japan. reduzierung@yahoo.co.jp.
Insights
Acquiring Spatiotemporal Image Correlation (STIC) fetal heart data can be unsuccessful due to fetal movement artifacts and maternal factors. Optimizing STIC examinations improves antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Fetal Cardiology
- Obstetric Ultrasound
Background:
- Spatiotemporal Image Correlation (STIC) is crucial for fetal heart imaging.
- High-quality STIC data are essential for antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
- Understanding factors affecting STIC acquisition is key to improving diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for unsuccessful STIC volume data acquisition.
- To describe a more accurate and efficient STIC examination protocol.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 1124 women with fetuses.
- Logistic regression analysis to assess risk factors for unsuccessful STIC acquisition.
- Evaluated variables included maternal BMI, fetal factors, and imaging techniques.
Main Results:
- 18.6% of STIC acquisitions were unsuccessful.
- Independent risk factors for unsuccessful acquisition identified: shadowing artifacts from fetal movement (SAU), maternal BMI ≥ 28 kg/m², not using volume rendering images in 4D-US, estimated fetal weight ≥ 1300 g, and anterior placenta.
- Sonographer proficiency was not a significant factor.
Conclusions:
- Avoiding SAU is critical for successful STIC evaluations.
- Volume rendering images in 4D-US show promise for improving STIC data acquisition.
- Improved STIC techniques enhance antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
Purpose:
Spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) is an excellent imaging modality for observing the fetal heart. High-quality STIC volume data are needed for an antenatal anatomic survey to diagnose congenital heart disease. We aimed to clarify the causes of unsuccessful STIC volume data acquisition and describe a more accurate, efficient STIC examination.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study of 1124 women with fetuses assessed risk factors for unsuccessful acquisition of STIC volume data. Logistic regression analysis quantified the relation between unsuccessful acquisition and clinical variables, including maternal body mass index (BMI), shadowing artifacts due to unexpected fetal limb movement (SAU), estimated fetal weight (EFW), gestational age (GA), use of volume rendering images in four-dimensional ultrasonography (4D-US), fetal heart rate (FHR), maternal age, anterior placenta, and prior lower abdominal surgery.
Results:
STIC volume data acquisition was unsuccessful in 210 of 1124 (18.6%) cases. SAU, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, not using volume rendering images in 4D-US, EFW ≥ 1300 g, and anterior placenta were independent risk factors for unsuccessful STIC data acquisition.
Conclusions:
Avoiding SAU was the most important factor for accurate, efficient STIC evaluations for diagnosing congenital heart disease antenatally. The risk was not explained by lack of sonographer proficiency. Volume rendering images in 4D-US is a promising approach to successful acquisition of STIC volume data.
