Spatio-temporal image correlation with high definition flow imaging in diagnosis of anomalies of fetal venous connections

Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of spatio temporal image correlation (STIC) combined with high definition flow(HDF) in the diagnosis of anomalies of fetal veins connections.Methods HDF-STIC volumes datasets were collected and grey-scale 2-dimensional imaging were obtained in 50 normal fetuses and 48 fetuses with anomalies of fetal veins connections.Results Successful acquisition of HDF-STIC volumes data in 46 normal fetuses and in 43 fetuses with abnormal veins connections.The rate of umbiliciat vein,ductus venous,inferior vena cave and pulmonary vein demonstrated by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) were 90％,80％,84％,40％ and those demonstrated by HDF-STIC were 90％,90％,89％,82％ in normal fetuses.Only sixteen (16/20)cases with persistent left superior vena cava were founded by CDFI while twenty (20/20) cases were founded by HDF,six (6/7)cases with anomalies of umbilical venous connection were displayed by in CDFI while seven (7/7)cases were displayed by in HDF,five (5/6)cases with abnormalities of inferior vena cava were displayed by CDFI while six(6/6) cases were displayed by HDF,five(5/10) cases with anomalous pulmonary venous connection were displayed by CDFI but seven(7/ 10) cases were displayed by HDF.Conclusions HDF-STtC could supplying additional information over 2D fetal sonography and facilitate identification of the anatomical features of normality and abnormalities of fetal veins connectiona.Therefore,HDF-STIC is beneficial to prenatal diagnosis of anomalies of fetal veins connection. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Umbilical veins; Ductus venous; Vena cava, inferior; Pulmonary veins