Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of fetal isolated levocardia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical application valve of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosis of fetal isolated levocardia(IL). Methods Thirty-eight IL fetuses diagnosed in three prenatal diagnosis centers from 2000 to 2016 were reviewed with their prenatal ultrasound features and cardiac and extracardiac malformations. Results Thirty-eight IL cases included 19 cases of left isomerism(LI), 14 cases of right isomerism(RI) and 5 non-classified cases. The overall incidence of malformations in IL patients was 97.4% with 94.7% in LI patients and 100% in RI patients. The incidence of cardiac malformations was 92.1% with 84.2% in LI patients and 100% in RI patients. The most common congenital heart diseases were: right ventricle outlet obstruction, univentricular physiology and atrioventricular septal defect. Anomalous pulmonary venous connection was more commonly seen in LI patients than in RI patients. The most common extracardiac malformation was duodenal obstruction(86.9%). Inferior vena cava interruption and polysplenia were more commonly seen in LI patients.Juxtaposition of aorta and inferior vena cava and asplenia were more commonly seen in RI patients. Conclusions IL is very rarely seen in population with high incidence of congenital heart diseases and extracardiac malformations. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Isolated levocardia; Heart defect, congenital; Fetal malformation