Archivi giornalieri: 22 Marzo 2006


Prenatal diagnosis of persistent left superior vena

Prenatal diagnosis of persistent left superior vena
cava and its associated congenital anomalies
C. BERG*, M. KN¨ UPPEL*, A. GEIPEL*, T. KOHL*, M. KRAPP†, G. KN ¨ OPFLE‡, U. GERMER§, M. HANSMANN* and U. GEMBRUCH*
*Department of Prenatal Medicine and Obstetrics, University of Bonn, and ‡Department of Pathology, Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universit ¨ at, Bonn, †Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital
Schleswig-Holstein, Campus L¨ ubeck and §Department of Prenatal Medicine, University of Regensburg, Germany

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the
most common form of anomalous systemic venous return
in adults. It has been observed in 0.3% of autopsies in
the general population and in 4–8% of patients with
congenital heart disease. The PLSVC usually drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus and may lead to a dilatation of the latter in the prenatal period.


Diagnosis, characterization and outcome of ccTGA

Diagnosis, characterization and outcome of congenitally
corrected transposition of the great arteries in the fetus:
a multicenter series of 30 cases
D. PALADINI*, P. VOLPE†, M. MARASINI‡, M. G. RUSSO§, M. VASSALLO*, M. GENTILE¶,and R. CALABR ` O§
*Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Federico II of Naples and §Department of Pediatric Cardiology, 2nd University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ‘‘Di Venere-Giovanni XXIII’’ Hospital and ¶Department of Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. ‘‘Di Venere-Giovanni XXIII’’ Hospital, Bari and ‡Pediatric Cardiology,
I.R.C.C.S. Giannina Gaslini Hospital, Genoa, Italy

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries
(ccTGA) is characterized by atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance. It represents a rare cardiac
defect, accounting for 1.1% of cases of major congenital
heart disease (CHD), and has an incidence at birth of
0.02 per 1000 live births. Prenatal diagnosis of this
lesion is feasible but may be difficult to detect at routine
screening because the atrioventricular discordance may
be overlooked if other significant anomalies of the fourchamber
view are absent.