An In‐depth Perspective of Aortic Arch Branching in Fetal Vascular Rings Using Spatiotemporal Image Correlation Combined With High‐definition Flow Imaging: Report of 4 Cases

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2019-08, Vol.38 (8), p.2217-2224
• Main Authors: Tseng, Jenn‐Jhy, Peng, Hsien‐Wen, Jan, Shen‐Ling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Aorta, Thoracic - abnormalities; Aorta, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aorta, Thoracic - embryology; aortic arch; Echocardiography - methods; Echocardiography, Four-Dimensional - methods; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional - methods; Female; Fetal Heart - diagnostic imaging; fetus; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; obstetrics; Pregnancy; spatiotemporal image correlation; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; vascular ring; Vascular Ring - diagnostic imaging; Vascular Ring - embryology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.1002/jum.14891

On the basis of 2‐dimensional fetal echocardiographic findings, we investigated 4 different fetal vascular ring cases using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) combined with high‐definition (HD) flow imaging. An in‐depth 3‐dimensional perspective of aortic arch branching (ie, the brachiocephalic arteries) was created by application of glass body and HDlive flow rendering algorithms (GE Healthcare, Zipf, Austria). Additionally, complete (U‐ or O‐shaped) or incomplete (C‐shaped) vascular rings were clearly differentiated in utero, and articulations around the trachea and esophagus were more easily imaged. In conclusion, spatiotemporal image correlation combined with HD flow imaging could classify fetal vascular rings with accuracy and facilitate decision making during postnatal management.