Fetal left ventricular mass determination on 2-dimensional echocardiography using area-length calculation methods.

OBJECTIVES

Fetal cardiac examination is an important part of fetal malformation screening. The purposes of this study were to describe the left ventricular (LV) mass in the second and third trimesters by 2-dimensional echocardiography using area-length calculation methods and to examine the clinical usefulness of this procedure in evaluation of gestational age (GA)- and fetal weight-related LV mass changes.

METHODS

Five hundred healthy fetuses were divided into 2 groups (250 participants per group): second- and third-trimester groups. The estimated fetal weight (EFW) was computed according to the Hadlock formula (Radiology 1984; 150:535-540). The LV mass at end diastole (LVd mass) and LV mass at end systole (LVs mass) were measured, and the difference between the LVd mass and LVs mass [LV(d-s) mass], LVd mass/EFW ratio, and LVs mass/EFW ratio were calculated.

RESULTS

The EFW, LVd mass, LVs mass, and LV(d-s) mass were all significantly greater in the third-trimester group than the second-trimester group (P < .05), whereas the LVd mass/EFW and LVs mass/EFW ratios did not differ between the groups (P > .05). The LVd mass, LVs mass, and LV(d-s) mass all significantly correlated with GA and weight (P< .001), but the LVd mass/EFW and LVs mass/EFW ratios did not (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Two-dimensional echocardiography using area-length calculation methods can effectively provide measurements for LV mass and can sensitively indicate fetal weight- and GA -related changes in LV mass. Fetal cardiac mass measurement is a useful parameter for evaluation of fetal heart development.