Fetal Myocardial Wall Area: Constructing a Reference Range by Means of Spatiotemporal Image Correlation in the Rendering Mode

Abstract

Objective: To establish the reference range of the myocardial wall area in the fetus using three-dimensional ultrasound in the rendering mode. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study including 371 singleton, uncomplicated pregnancies at 20 weeks 0 day to 33 weeks 6 days of gestation was carried out. Cardiac volumes were obtained using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) at the level of the four-chamber view. The end-diastolic myocardial area of the both ventricles was measured manually. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess intra- and interobserver concordance. Results: The mean myocardial area of the fetal right ventricular (RV) wall ranged from 0.86 ± 0.23 cm² at 20 weeks 0 day to 2.75 ± 0.69 cm² at 33 weeks 6 days of gestation. The mean myocardial area of the fetal left ventricular (LV) wall ranged from 0.82 ± 0.20 cm² at 20 weeks 0 day to 2.49 ± 0.59 cm² at 33 weeks 6 days of gestation. In addition, intra- and interobserver concordance for the myocardial area of the RV and LV walls was good, with ICC values of 0.94, 0.95, 0.85, and 0.93, respectively. Conclusions: The reference range for the myocardial area of the RV and LV walls was determined by cardio-STIC in the rendering mode at 20 weeks 0 day to 33 weeks 6 days of gestation, with good concordance between values.

Fetal Heart Function by Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and Ventricular Shortening Fraction Using STIC M-Mode: Reference Ranges and Validation

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Feasibility of Semiautomatic Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography for Different Fetal Spine Positions

“…In addition to extensive, time‐consuming, and expansive training programs, technical solutions might be useful. For example, spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) based on 4‐dimensional (4D) ultrasound 19–23 can overcome some of the mentioned difficulties 19,20,24–47 …”

Semiautomatic Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography Has the Potential to Aid Cardiac Evaluations Even in Less Experienced Hands

“…These challenges in prenatal diagnosis might generally be attributed to the complex anatomy of the heart, its motion, and its relatively small size . Four‐dimensional ultrasound (US) with spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) has been shown to be able to overcome these issues . Nevertheless, the detailed information incorporated in an STIC volume is rather difficult to depict, mainly because of operator dependency and lack of standardization .…”