Fetal cardiac sectional schemas - Normal and abnormal. Part 1: Upper abdominal and thoracic sections.

BACKGROUND: A representational illustrated cardiac schema is useful for understanding and interpreting normal and abnormal fetal echocardiographic findings.

AIM: Normal and abnormal fetal echocardiographic images can be better appreciated with the support of sectional schemas.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: An attempt is made to include normal and abnormal variations in both grayscale and color images for easy understanding with the help of the schemas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The fetal cardiac sectional schemas are drawn by the author, using Microsoft Office Word drawing canvas. It is based on the best grayscale, color Doppler, power-angio, 3-dimensional, and high definition flow ultrasound images, supported by embryological and anatomic specimens in literature. Different sections are drawn in accordance with the planes suggested by Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American College of Radiology, and American Society of Echocardiography. Every effort has been meticulously pursued to match with the best ultrasound images with minor modifications for better clarity, understanding, and reproducibility.

RESULTS: The drawings include normal and most of the common cardiac anomalies depicting different sectional views starting from the abdomen and upward. Each drawing complies with the ultrasound images. Users with basic computer knowledge can easily modify these images using them as templates for reference, reporting, and publications.

CONCLUSIONS: An attempt is made to represent the fetal echocardiographic images by simplified memorable sectional schemas. These schemas will facilitate a better understanding and interpretation of various normal and abnormal fetal echocardiographic images. Being electronically transmittable, these schemas can be used as templates for further modifications.