Echogenic focus in the fetal left ventricular cavity: Is it a false tendon?
Echogenic focus in the fetal left ventricular cavity: Is it a false tendon?
Nahide Altug a*, A. Nuri Danisman b*
a* Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ped. Cardiology Unit, Ankara, Turkey
b* Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, Perinatology Unit, Ankara, Turkey
Early Human Development, Volume 89, Issue 7, July 2013, Pages 479-482
abstract
Keywords: Fetus, False tendon,Echogenic focus,Fetal echocardiography
Objective:
To draw attention to the left ventricular false tendon which can be misinterpreted as echogenic focus in the fetus.
Methods:
The study group consisted of 9 fetuses out of the 161 who had been misdiagnosed for left ventricular false tendon as echogenic focus by obstetricians. Fetal echocardiography and 2-D color Doppler echocardiography were performed in the pre-postnatal period. The standard fetal echocardiographic views (4,5 chamber views, long axis view of the left ventricle, short axis view of the ventricles and great arteries, three vessels and trachea view, long axis views of the duct and aortic arch) were obtained for each case.
Results:
Of the 161 fetuses with echogenic focus in the left ventricle which underwent fetal echocardiography, 9 (5.6%) were diagnosed with false tendons present in the left ventricular cavity with no other cardiovascular anomaly. Six out of 9 patients underwent amniocentesis as follows: for age of over 35 years (two patients), abnormal double-triple screening tests plus echogenic focus (two patients) and soft ultrasonographic markers including echogenic focus (two patients). These fetuses revealed nocardiovascular and other systemic pathology or dysmorphism except for false tendons in the left ventricular cavity.
Conclusion:
False tendon should be taken into account as differential diagnosis of left ventricular echogenic focus in the fetus. Misinterpretation of false tendon as echogenic focus may cause unnecessary fetal invasive approach and maternal anxiety, especially when it arises with a background of borderline fetal findings and knowledge.
Early Human Development, Volume 89, Issue 7, July 2013, Pages 479-482
© 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv
