Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 21, 2025
Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions
Published on: March 8, 2019
Study on the views and methods of ultrasonic screening and diagnosis for abnormal aortic arch in infants
Xinjian He1, Jiaoyang Chen2, Gaoyang Li2
1Department of Ultrasoud Diagnosis, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. hexinjian03@sina.com.
Insights
This study found that combining four echocardiographic views significantly improves the detection of infant aortic arch anomalies. The three-vessel and trachea view is effective for initial screening of abnormal aortic arch.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Aortic arch anomalies are significant congenital heart defects requiring accurate diagnosis.
- Echocardiography is a primary non-invasive tool for evaluating congenital heart disease in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of specific echocardiographic views for diagnosing aortic arch anomalies in infants.
- To enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of echocardiographic screening for these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 140 infants diagnosed with abnormal aortic arch via ultrasound.
- Utilized routine echocardiography views plus four specific aortic arch views: three-vessel and trachea view, aortic arch short axis view, left aortic arch long axis view, and aortic arch long axis continuous scan views.
- Analyzed screening sensitivity and diagnostic coincidence rates for individual views and a four-view combination.
Main Results:
- The four-view combination achieved 100% screening sensitivity and 97.9% diagnostic coincidence rate for aortic arch anomalies.
- Specific anomalies identified included right aortic arch, aberrant subclavian artery, double aortic arch, coarctation of the aorta, and interruption of the aortic arch.
- The three-vessel and trachea view demonstrated high screening sensitivity (99.3%) and diagnostic coincidence (95.0%).
Conclusions:
- The three-vessel and trachea view is a simple and effective method for screening abnormal aortic arch.
- Combining four specific echocardiographic views significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy for various aortic arch abnormalities in infants.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to explore echocardiographic views and methods of aortic arch anomalies in infants, so as to improve the screening sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy.
Methods:
140 children with abnormal aortic arch diagnosed by ultrasound in Children's Hospital of Hebei Province from January 2014 to December 2019 were selected for retrospective analysis. All were confirmed by surgery or/and computerized tomography angiography. Series of views for aortic arch (the three-vessel and tracheal view, aortic arch short axis view, left aortic arch long axis view, aortic arch long axis continuous scan views) were performed in all cases on the basis of the routine views of echocardiography. The screening sensitivity and diagnostic coincidence rate of different echocardiographic views for aortic arch anomalies were analyzed.
Results:
Among the 140 infants, right aortic arch were 21 cases (6/21 were accompanied by mirror branch and 15/21 were with aberrant left subclavian artery). Left aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery were 2 cases, and double aortic arch with both arches open were 20 cases. Double aortic arch with left arch atresia were 2 cases, and atresia of the proximal aorta with aortic arch dysplasia was 1 case. Coarctation of the aorta were 67 cases, and interruption of aortic arch were 27 cases. All the patients were correctly diagnosed except that 2 infants with interruption of aortic arch were incorrectly diagnosed as coarctation of the aorta, and 1 infant with coarctation of the aorta was misdiagnosed as interruption of aortic arch by echocardiography. The screening sensitivities of four views and four-view combination for abnormal aortic arch were 99.3, 73.6, 87.1, 99.3, and 100%; the diagnostic coincidence rates were 85.7, 27.1,66.4, 95.0%, and 97.9% respectively. On the basis of traditional left aortic long axis view, other three views had their own advantages. The screening sensitivity and diagnostic coincidence rate of four-view combination were significantly improved.
Conclusions:
The three-vessel trachea view is simple and feasible, which is suitable for screening abnormal aortic arch. The combination of four views conduces to improving screening sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of aortic arch abnormalities.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:17Ultrasonography
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called...
01:30Aneurysm I: Introduction
01:25Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings II: Auscultation
Abnormal Heart Sounds
Gallops:
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...