Fetal Right Ventricular Diverticulum Detected by Prenatal Ultrasound Screening

Prenatal Diagnosis of Right-Sided Congenital Ventricular Diverticulum (CVD) Assisted by Spatiotemporal Image Correlation (STIC) Acquisition and the Speckle-Tracking Technique to Assess Fetal Cardiac Function: A Case Report

Congenital ventricular diverticulum (CVD) is a cardiac malformation defined as an outpouching lesion of a ventricle with normal contractility and thickness, and the advancement of prenatal sonography has led to its prenatal diagnosis. In the prenatal period, CVD is reported in association with pericardial effusion, arrhythmia, and fetal hydrops or as an isolated condition. With the development of prenatal echocardiography, CVD can be diagnosed from the early stage of pregnancy, and prenatal procedures, such as pericardiocentesis, are also possible. Spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) acquisition, a novel approach for the clinical evaluation of fetal hearts, provides easy-to-use techniques for acquiring data from fetal hearts and helping visualization with two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) cine sequences. Furthermore, the speckle-tracking technique enables a more comprehensive evaluation of the shape, continuity, and function of the fetal heart. These recent techniques have never been used for CVD diagnosis and evaluation. Here, we present a case of right-sided CVD, which is the first in which STIC acquisition and cardiac function assessment with the speckle-tracking technique were used to assist in the diagnosis and evaluation.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal right ventricular diverticulum with massive pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins: a case report with a favorable outcome following in utero pericardiocentesis

Background

Congenital ventricular diverticulum is a rare abnormality that may occur as an isolated malformation. Most cases are accompanied by pericardial effusion. Prenatal counseling can be difficult because the prognosis is uncertain and there is no consensus approach to prenatal management.

Case presentation: We describe a case of congenital cardiac diverticulum complicated by large pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins. The case was diagnosed by ultrasonography at 21 weeks of gestation. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis at 22 weeks resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and led to a favorable fetal outcome. We summarize the interventions and pregnancy outcomes in cases of cardiac diverticula reported in the literature.

Conclusions

Better awareness of clinical features, in utero therapies, and pregnancy outcomes could help define and improve prenatal management of congenital ventricular diverticula.

A Fetal Presentation of a Ruptured Right Ventricular Diverticulum

Ruptured diverticula and ventricular aneurysms are rare in the fetus, with a limited number of case reports published previously. Additional fetal complications secondary to these ventricular wall abnormalities can be seen. Interventional measures can be considered and attempted either in utero or postnatally to improve the chance of survival. We present a case of a ruptured diverticulum in a fetus and the clinical course.

A case report: multiple right ventricular diverticula with constrictive pericarditis and right heart failure

Background

Right ventricular diverticula (RVD) are very rare congenital anomalies and their association with constrictive pericarditis is even rarer. So far, only one case has been published in literature.

Case summary

We report a case of multiple congenital RVD with constrictive pericarditis and right heart failure which was incidentally identified on surveillance computed tomography (CT) for abdominal lymphangioma. Interval CT, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) studies were performed and reviewed. Computed tomography abdomen showed hepatic congestion with features of portal hypertension, increasing size of the RVD on review of serial CTs, and eccentric foci of pericardial calcification. Echocardiography performed for breathlessness demonstrated supranormal early diastolic tissue velocities with average of 19.8 cms⁻¹ and a septal bounce phenomenon on m-mode imaging suggesting constrictive physiology, which triggered a CMR referral. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging HASTE and right ventricular (RV) outflow tract imaging showed four outpouchings along RV free wall, the largest measuring 4.5 × 2 cm with a sizeable neck. These outpouchings displayed a trabecular network and/or were contractile aiding the diagnosis of diverticula as opposed to aneurysms. Right ventricular function was moderately compromised, whereas left ventricular function was preserved.

Discussion

Right ventricular diverticula can be associated with, and potentially be causative of, pericardial thickening and calcification eventually leading to constrictive pericarditis and heart failure.