Assessment of the quality of fetal heart standard views using the FAST, STAR, and FINE four-dimensional ultrasound techniques in the screening of congenital heart diseases

Simulator, machine learning, and artificial intelligence: Time has come to assist prenatal ultrasound diagnosis

In this Commentary authors investigated and extended the role of simulator in assisting obstetric sonographers in training program. The interconnection of different digitalized technologies such as digital data, artificial neuronal and convolutional networks, machine and deep learning, telemedicine, and output are discussed and contribute to the generation of artificial intelligence.

Improvement of diagnostic efficiency in fetal congenital heart disease using fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography by less-experienced operators

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the feasibility and accuracy of fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE) for the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) by inexperienced and experienced operators.

METHOD

In this prospective study, all volume data sets from 120 fetuses with a broad spectrum of CHD were acquired using spatiotemporal image correlation technology. The prenatal diagnostic procedures were performed by two operators with different experience (beginner: 1 year and expert: 15 years) using FINE and traditional fetal echocardiography. Data were analyzed on the time of examination and acquisition of results.

RESULTS

Diagnoses made by FINE and traditional echocardiography were completely consistent with the final diagnosis of CHD in 98 (81.66%) versus 20 (16.66%) (P < 0.001) beginners and 87.50% (n = 105) versus 101 (84.16%) experts, respectively. On the contrary, there was significant difference using traditional echocardiography (16.66% versus 84.16%, P < 0.001) by two examiners. Furthermore, the examination time decreased when using FINE compared with using traditional echocardiography (beginner operators: 4.54 ± 1.03 min versus 20.58 ± 3.36 min, P < 0.001; expert operators: 3.89 ± 0.96 min versus 12.73 ± 1.62 min, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, a prenatal diagnosis of CHD can be made with high feasibility and accuracy using FINE compared with traditional fetal echocardiography for beginner operators.

Antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease by 3D ultrasonography using spatiotemporal image correlation with HDlive Flow and HDlive Flow silhouette rendering modes

This pictorial review describes the assessment of a great variety of types of congenital heart disease by three-dimensional ultrasonography with spatiotemporal image correlation using HDlive and the HDlive Flow silhouette rendering mode. These technologies provide fetal heart surface patterns by using a fixed virtual light source that propagates into the tissues, permitting a detailed reconstruction of the heart structures. In this scenario, ultrasound operators can freely select a better light source position to enhance the anatomical details of the fetal heart. HDlive and the HDlive Flow silhouette rendering mode improve depth perception and the resolution of anatomic cardiac details and blood vessel walls compared to standard two-dimensional ultrasonography.