Contemporary clinical applications of spatio-temporal image correlation in prenatal diagnosis

Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Apr;23(2):94-102. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0b013e328342ef38.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Four-dimensional fetal echocardiography has the potential to reduce the operator dependency of two-dimensional ultrasonography and increase the detection rate of congenital heart defects (CHDs). This review is intended to summarize recent evidence of the important role that four-dimensional ultrasonography with spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) may play in the prenatal diagnosis of CHDs.

Recent findings: Four-dimensional ultrasonography with STIC may provide the opportunity for telemedicine in the prenatal diagnosis of CHDs because four-dimensional volume datasets can be remotely acquired and accurately interpreted by different centers. Four-dimensional ultrasonography with STIC is an accurate and reproducible technique for the prenatal diagnosis of CHDs. Different four-dimensional rendering techniques can provide important insight into the spatial relationships of normal and abnormal fetal vascular structures.

Summary: Four-dimensional fetal echocardiography with STIC may facilitate the examination of the fetal heart and could potentially increase the detection rate of CHDs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Echocardiography, Four-Dimensional / methods*
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnosis*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Obstetrics / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Telemedicine / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / methods*