First trimester two‐ and four‐dimensional cardiac scan: intra‐ and interobserver agreement, comparison between methods and benefits of color Doppler technique. (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tudorache, S.; Cara, M.; Iliescu, D. G.; Novac, L.; Cernea, N.
• Is Part Of: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology. Volume 42:Number 6(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 659
• Page End: 668
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Ultrasonics in obstetrics -- Periodicals; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Ultrasonic -- Periodicals; Genital Diseases, Female -- ultrasonography -- Periodicals; Ultrasonography, Prenatal -- Periodicals; 618.047543
• DOI: 10.1002/uog.12459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7692

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="uog12459-abs-0001"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="uog12459-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p id="uog12459-para-0001"> <italic>To evaluate intra‐ and interobserver agreement for first‐trimester fetal cardiac structural assessment, using two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound (2D‐US) and 4D‐US (4D spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) technology), to compare the methods and to assess the advantages of adding color Doppler to each technique</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="uog12459-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p id="uog12459-para-0002"> <italic>Digital videoclips (B‐mode and color Doppler) and 4D‐STIC volumes (gray‐scale and color Doppler) from 632 pregnancies with normal fetal hearts were acquired and stored at the time of detailed first‐trimester ultrasound examination. Later analysis on a randomized sample of 100 cases was performed, targeting 11 cardiac structures and features. We compared visualization of fetal heart parameters using 2D‐US</italic> vs <italic>4D‐US and gray‐scale</italic> vs <italic>color Doppler imaging</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="uog12459-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p id="uog12459-para-0003"> <italic>STIC volumes were considered satisfactory (adequate visualization of at least 8/11 parameters) in 78% of cases and 2D‐US acquisitions in 89% of cases. The intra‐ and interobserver agreement was good for both 2D and 4D methods (kappa > 0.6), and the percentage overall agreement was very high using both methods (95%). 2D‐ and 4D‐US identification of the fetal cardiac parameters did not differ significantly. The differences between gray‐scale and color Doppler imaging were statistically significant in identifying similar key cardiac parameters, for both 2D‐ and 4D‐US (</italic>P < <italic>0.05)</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="uog12459-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p id="uog12459-para-0004"> <italic>Both 2D and 4D methods for assessing first‐trimester heart parameters are feasible and repeatable within and between observers. Color Doppler adds valuable information to both methods. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>