Fetal cardiac dimensions: a potential tool for the diagnosis of congenital heart defects

This study proposes normal values for fetal heart dimensions. They include the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the heart, as well as an estimate of the cardiac volume. The resulting nomograms were useful in the diagnosis of various congenital anomalies, as is demonstrated in three case reports. Although the nomograms are not intended to compete with more elaborate techniques of investigation of the fetal heart, such as M-mode echocardiography or Doppler studies, they are much easier to use and could be used as a complementary method to identify possible fetal cardiac anomalies.