Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of unroofed coronary sinus and review of the literature

Abstract

Objective To summarize the prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics of unroofed coronary sinus(URCS) for improving the prenatal echocardiography diagnostic accuracy of URCS. Methods The retrospective review for prenatal ultrasonogram of 7 fetuses was applied, which were diagnosed as URCS. The prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics of 7 fetuses with URCS were reviewed and comparatively analyzed with postpartum autopsy findings or postnatal echocardiography. The relevant literatures referring to the prenatal diagnosis of URCS were reviewed. The experience of prenatal diagnosis of URCS were summarized. Results In 7 cases with URCS, 5 cases of completely URCS were associated with right atrial isomerism syndrome and confirmed by postpartum autopsy, and 2 cases of partially URCS were only with persistent left superior vena cava and confirmed by postnatal echocardiography. The karyotype analysis of 2 cases of partially URCS on amniotic fluid was normal. Conclusions There are some characteristic signs in ultrasonic features of URCS. URCS can be diagnosed by prenatally ultrasonography. A long axial section of the coronary sinus is the most important view for prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of URCS. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetus; Unroofed coronary sinus