Congenital heart anomalies in the first trimester: From screening to diagnosis

Prenat Diagn. 2023 Jun;43(7):889-900. doi: 10.1002/pd.6391. Epub 2023 Jun 14.

Abstract

Congenital heart defects occur in approximately 1% of liveborn children and represent the most common form of congenital malformation. Due to the small size and complexity of the heart structures, prenatal diagnosis is most often made in the second trimester of pregnancy. Early diagnosis however offers significant advantages regarding the timing of further investigations, prenatal counseling, and access to management options. In the last decade, advances in antenatal imaging have improved the detection of cardiac malformations with increasing emphasis on earlier pregnancy screening and diagnosis. We aim to summarize current "state of the art" imaging of the fetal heart in the first trimester.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal* / methods