THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AN ECHOGENIC INTRACARDIAC FOCUS AT AN 18-20 WEEK MORPHOLOGY SCAN IN A LOW RISK AUSTRALIAN POPULATION

Helen Gofton AMS, Brisbane Ultrasound for Women, Spring Hill, Queensland;
Dr Gary Pritchard MBBS FRACOG DDU, Obstetric and Gynecologic Sonologist, Brisbane Ultrasound for Women, Spring Hill, Queensland

Abstract
An Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF) refers to the distinctly echogenic reflector seen within the fetal cardiac ventricle at prenatal morphological examination. The prevalence of this finding is significantly higher in fetuses with Down Syndrome (DS) than in the chromosomally normal population. Some studies have also shown an increase in the incidence of cardiac defects. The dilemma that arises is whether the medical advisor has an obligation to inform the patient of this finding, and of its association with DS, knowing that there will be inevitable distress, anxiety and potential loss of the pregnancy from an amniocentesis when this information is given. This is of particular difficulty when an EIF is an isolated finding in an otherwise low risk woman.

This study examines our own data to determine the impact that an EIF has on detection of Down Syndrome and cardiac abnormality in a large number of low risk women.

Citation
Gofton H, Pritchard G. The significance of an echogenic intracardiac focus at an 18-20 week morphology scan in a low risk Australian population. ASUM Bulletin 2002.2:7-10.