Multiple Fetal Intracardiac Echogenic Foci: Not Always a Benign Sonographic Finding

Echogenic intracardiac foci and fetal cardiac anomalies: A review of cases from a tertiary care center in China

“…With improvements in transducer technology, EIF has become a common finding during fetal US screening examinations. Based on numerous previous reports, EIF has been associated with fetal chromosomal abnormalities and cardiac anomalies . However, these observations were not confirmed by subsequent studies .…”

“…EIFs can be found in one or both ventricles, and they may be single or multiple . The most frequent finding is a single focus in the LV .…”

“…Some investigators have suggested that right‐sided or bilateral EIFs confer a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities than a left‐sided EIF . Another group concluded that multiple foci are an indication for further workup because they may signal a poor prognosis . However, most of these studies were based on small sample sizes and limited to fetal chromosomal abnormalities.…”

“…EIFs most frequently occur in the left ventricle (LV) and occur less commonly on the right side and bilaterally. Reports indicate that, in fetuses, right‐sided and bilateral EIFs carry greater significance than a left‐sided EIF . However, these conclusions were based on a small number of observations, and a larger number of fetuses is needed to evaluate this issue fully.…”

The cardiac echogenic focus

“…The lowest reported incidence was 0.13 per cent (Bronshtein et al, 1996) and the highest was 20 per cent (Levy and Mintz, 1988). Most series have reported an incidence between 3 per cent and 8 per cent (Dildy et al, 1996 (4.9 per cent); Simpson et al, 1996 (6.9 per cent); Schechter et al, 1987 (3.5 per cent); Bromley et al, 1995 (4.9 per cent); Achiron et al, 1997 (7.4 per cent)).…”