We might do extra ultrasounds in the third trimester just to check on the babys growth, but nothing else needs to be done there are no long-term complications. An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) does not affect health of the baby or how the baby's heart works. Significance of fetal intracardiac echogenic foci in relation to trisomy 21: a prospective sonographic study of high-risk pregnant women. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) April 11, 2023 | by jrglovexox. The most common location is the left ventricle which now you know where its located. In isolation, it is not a risk factor for chromosomal anomaly. He was also moving a lot so they couldnt get a good look. An EIF in the fetal heart may indicate an increased chance of the baby having a chromosome problem. Hypoplasia or atresia of mitral and aortic valve, Flow reversal in oval foramen and distal aortic arch, Aortic stenosis ( difficult to diagnose in utero), Flow reversal in distal aortic arch may be present, May develop into hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Hello all,I am currently awaiting blood results for CMV. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a relatively common sonographic observation that may be present on an antenatal ultrasound scan. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019014. Sometimes; however, when a mineral such as calcium aggregates together. Meta-analysis of validity of echogenic intracardiac foci for calculating the risk of Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy. After my dr told us it likely meant NOTHING, I just wanted the US's cos I liked to see my baby dance around. Hi, I'm new to posting, but I wanted to see if anyone has had or is having the same experience. In short, medicine and physicians see things from the patients perspective. However, in any pregnancy, women are offered optional prenatal tests that can help find specific kinds of birth defects, including Down syndrome. 203, 2nd floor, 71 Raintree, 2nd lane, Hindu colony, Near Swaminarayan temple Your guide to pregnancy-related abbreviations, PeriPAN: Getting pregnant and postpartum women mental health care faster. Found in 2% of normal fetuses. Amniocentesis is a test to check a baby's chromosomes. We respect everyones right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expects Terms of Use. Gynecol. He also said that the echogenic focus will go away either before or after birth. Dec 1, 2021 at 3:42 PM. These terms can sound scary. Pathology Bookshelf My husband has history of heart murmur that dissolved on it own. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Epub 2022 Feb 21. A few days later I get a call from my OB saying that baby is growing appropriate and everything looked great BUT there was a white spot found in his heart called Echogenic Intracardiac Focus. The published risks of Down syndrome among fetuses with echogenic cardiac foci have varied from no increased risk up to a four-fold increase in the age-related risk. G. GraceAriel. Obstetrics and gynecology. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Echogenic intracardiac focus is an ultrasound finding that is most commonly seen during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Also I dont know if it will be reassurance for you or not but the extremely reputable specialist we saw talked to us about what exactly causes the Echogenic intracardiac foci and said that its super common to have 1 show up, its just where dense tissue comes together and since the heart is a muscle its not rare. The OB said the standard of care is to then proceed to a level 2 ultra sound. 2021 Mar 26;12:626044. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.626044. I had the same thing told to me at my ultrasound today . She said she will sent the pictures to be reviewed and a write up will be completed for my doctor to review with me. Although most fetuses with this finding are normal, patients carrying fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus should be counseled about the increased risk of trisomy 21. Entezami M, Albig M, Knoll U et-al. Echogenic intracardiac focus: a sonographic sign for fetal Down and transmitted securely. Assured me my baby is developing just fine and that nothing is wrong with her heart. I'm 29 and have no other risk factors but I guess these only show in 5% of normal pregnancies. Even though when the doctor is facing a patient, the heart of that patient is located on the right side from the doctors perspective. She also told us that in Europe they don't even report it since it's benign if not accompanies with any other concern. ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads. EIFs are found in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems. Why EIF is seen in some babies and not others is unknown. Abstract. Hello everyone I had my anatomy scan today, and all looked well except they said baby seemed to have a echogenic intracardiac focus in the left ventricle. Become a Gold Supporter and see no third-party ads. Echogenic focus is common animals found in which doesn't interfere with normal cardiac activity . Your doctor will probably refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine doctor for advanced imaging of the findings, just to be safe. Just got back from my specialist ultrasound and everything is 100% normal. It shows up as a bright spot on the heart in imaging, and it's thought to be a microcalcification on the heart muscle. Well continue with a little lecture on radiology, but dont let the word lecture spook you out., it will all make sense by the end, I promise. Every machine has its particular properties and a different mechanism of action compared to another. The tightness of the association between an isolated EIF and aneuploidy continues to be debated. These white spots are most likely seen during your mid-pregnancy ultrasound, which takes place between 18 weeks and 22 weeks. This is considered a soft marker for chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome, Trisomy 13, etc). 9. They simply shrivel up and waste away. Dadar East . It is associated with a higher risk of Down syndrome but in most cases, it's just a benign finding. Definition. thats great to hear everything has come back negative so far! AJR Am J Roentgenol. There is no special testing recommended for pregnancies found to have an isolated EIF. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Mumbai. Routine-care appointments such as women's wellness exams will be delayed or rescheduled for a future date. That means that 99/100 babies with this finding will not have Down syndrome. Group Leaders communicate with staff moderators and escalate potential violations for review, but they dont moderate discussions. Most fetuses with these findings will, however, not have chromosomal abnormalities, especially when these findings are isolated. You already had the harmony test and got good results, so at this point you should just try to relaxand enjoy your healthy pregnancy! I guess Im just looking for anyone who has gone through something similar? However, it can be found anywhere inside the heart, and on rare occasions, the bright spot isnt an isolated finding. Echogenic intracardiac focus is a marker for potential birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities such as trisomy 18 or trisomy 21 (down's syndrome). For most women, I mention that the finding will appear on the final ultrasound report since patients can see all of their results in our electronic medical record. They are thought to be present in ~4-5% of karyotypically normal fetuses. Prenatal diagnostic procedures can accurately identify certain problems present with the baby. No special treatment or tests are needed at delivery. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Significance of an echogenic intracardiac focus in fetuses at high and low risk for aneuploidy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Echogenic_intracardiac_focus&oldid=1069740505, Mother's age at the expected date of delivery. 3. 2004;23 (7): 895-8. I know these are hard times, but we got this! The answer is in your first anatomy lecture below. Abstract. Karyotypic information was obtained on each fetus. She said that it's nothing to worry about but it could be a marker for Down Syndrome. Keep us posted on how the genetic karyotyping turns out! So this really is just causing me a lot of stress. Wax JR, Cartin A, Pinette MG et-al. 21 (4): 354-8. chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). 2020 Jan;99(5):e19014. Keep me posted on how everything turns out! If the pregnant woman has no other risk factors and the ultrasound shows no other signs of abnormal findings that suggest a genetic malformation, then no. Conclusion: Achiron R, Lipitz S, Gabbay U, Yagel S. Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal heart echogenic foci: no correlation with Down syndrome. Group Leaders communicate with staff moderators and escalate potential violations for review, but they dont moderate discussions. We are still awaiting the full genetic karyotyping but the specialist didnt anticipate it showing anything serious. Just freaking out a little and want to know. Lorente AMR, Moreno-Cid M, Rodrguez MJ, Bueno G, Tenas JM, Romn C, Arias , Pascual A. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. Microcalcifications of the papillary muscles or chordae tendinae are being represented by this . An echogenic intracardiac focus is a hyperechogenic spot (aka bright spot) that is seen on a babys ultrasound in utero; the most common location of this bright spot is the left ventricle of the heart. Incidence in normal fetuses = 4.8% ; Incidence in Down syndrome = 18% . Echogenic Intracardiac Focus-Anatomy Scan ( EIF ) Hey mamas!! I just had my 20 week anatomy scan as well and they saw a calcium deposit (EIF). So, which chamber is the right or left one? If we keep this up, youll graduate from medical school in a week! So at my 20 week scan on Monday they found an EIF. Echogenic Intracardiac Foci EIF are described as discrete areas of echogenicity comparable to bone in the region of papillary muscle in either cardiac ventricle. Involves sub valvar apparatus of tricuspid or mitral valve. Pathology High chances of fetal demises when diagnosed in utero. In isolation, it is not a risk factor for chromosomal anomaly. However, in certain situations and with high-risk mothers; it can be a problem. EIFs themselves have no impact on health or heart function. There you have it, youre done with your first radiology lecture. This bright spot, which is usually seen in the ventricle of the heart, is referred to as an echogenic intracardiac focus. think twice before sharing personal details, foster a friendly and supportive environment, remove fake accounts, spam and misinformation, delete posts that violate our community guidelines, reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts. Four of 22 fetuses (18%) with trisomy 21 had an echogenic intracardiac focus, compared with 62 (4.7%) of 1312 fetuses without Down syndrome who also had an echogenic intracardiac focus (P = .004). Front Genet. The good news is that most of these cases disappear by the second half of the third trimester and have no consequences on the babys health and well-being. 7. Echogenic Intracardiac Focus A single umbilical artery is associated with a higher risk that the baby might have a problem with other organ systems such as the heart and kidneys. I am hoping everything goes well and that there really is no need for concern. The specialist said that any one of those 4 things would be nothing to worry about but since I had all 4 they wanted to do further testing since 2 are signs of Downs syndrome and 2 are signs of triploidy. What to Expect supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. Methods: Biventricular EIFs are considered to be a higher risk for aneuploidy. Create an account or log in to participate. ultrasound,, Sometimes, during these checkups, the doctor will find a bright spot in the fetuss heart. LV was described as a duplicated focus. But echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is almost never something to worry about. There are two kinds of prenatal tests available, screening tests and diagnostic procedures. A Group Owner is a member that has initiated the creation of a group to connect with other members to share their journey through the same pregnancy & baby stages. Prior, we had a negative NIPT and a good nuchal screen avg 1.63mm and normal. May have flow reversal in arterial duct and oval foramen. Would you like email updates of new search results? I had mine done this week and was told the same.. had an appointment with a genetic counselor because my head was going 100 different directions. Hi everyone, I have had a few ultrasounds and our son had a very slight risk for downs but there were no major markers to indicate it just an abnormal AFP test. Well also check the mothers risk for chromosomal abnormalities through blood tests or other screenings. An echogenic intracardiac focus (EICF) is a small white spot that may be seen on your baby's heart during one of your routine ultrasounds. This muscle appears dim and dark on the ultrasound except for the valves and the septum. I dont have any advice but I had my anatomy scan today and they want to check him for coarctation of the aorta. Echogenic Intracardiac Focus - Should I get the level 2 Ultra - Reddit The foci may be present in one or both ventricles. We also have an echogenic focus, along with a couple other soft markers for downs. Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) Has anyone ever heard of Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF)? Your Pregnancy Matters, 2. Well, in 1995, a study was done by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital on 1334 pregnant women found that babies with a documented echogenic intracardiac focus had a significant risk of Down syndrome. 13 estimated the sensitivity of an isolated echogenic focus for detecting trisomy 21 to be 11% (95% CI, 6-18) based on a meta-analysis of three publications 4, 6, 7.Winter et al. Your odds are not increased of having a baby with downs with just an echogenic focus. How proactive physical therapy can improve pregnancy and postpartum care, Pediatrics; J Ultrasound Med. 13 estimated the sensitivity of an isolated echogenic focus for detecting trisomy 21 to be 11% (95% CI, 6-18) based on a meta-analysis of three publications 4, 6, 7.Winter et al. A normal amniocentesis result means the EIF is not significant and there would be no other concerns about it. Several studies suggested a risk of about 1%. Bright spot seen in heart during evaluation of fetus. ADVERTISEMENT: Radiopaedia is free thanks to our supporters and advertisers. Home Blog Echogenic focus in fetal heart to worry or not to worry, Endocardial fibroelastosis and dilated dysfuntional LV. Our baby was born February 24th perfectly healthy! For this reason, when a pregnant woman comes to the doctors office to check on her fetus, we dont use X-rays machines or a CT scan which also involves using X-ray beams. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. But on average, these babies weigh 6.5 pounds and arrive after 38 weeks of pregnancy not very small or very early. Epub 2020 Mar 9. Of course I googled it and it says it common in Asian babies which my baby will be half Asian. 1st Pregnancy. An official website of the United States government. Bradley KE, Santulli TS, Gregory KD et-al. My husband and I are both doctors and own our separate private offices . I was a bit worried during pregnancy but everything turned out good healthwise! This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. Hope everything turns out okay! Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies He is perfectly fine and so is his heart. An intracardiac echogenic focus (ICEF) . But echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is almost never something to worry about. Fetuses with an echogenic intracardiac focus have a significantly increased risk of Down syndrome. Unable to process the form. Accessibility Calcium is a natural mineral found in the body. The early reports of sonographically detected intracardiac echogenic foci mainly concerned isolated echogenic spots in the fetal left ventricle 1-3.Subsequently, echogenic foci were detected in the right ventricle, both ventricles and even in the left atrium 4, 5.Since the original description in 1988 the significance of these echogenic foci has been controversial, with some authors . View restrictions. The same logic applies here; the heart is a muscle. It is NOT an abnormality and is NOT associated with heart defects. Hello all,I am currently awaiting blood results for CMV. He also said that the echogenic focus will go away either before or after birth. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Check for errors and try again. The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of What to Expect. thank you so much-that does give me some reassurance. Dec 1, 2021 at 3:42 PM. Pleasecontact our officeor notify our staff at check-in if you are experiencing any of the following: Patients with symptomswho require an urgent visitwill need to wear a mask during an in-person appointment. or 214-645-8300 Forother healthconcerns, please contact us toschedule an appointment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sujyot Heart Clinic have been providing different services for cardiography and Doppler related services. EIF is more frequently found in babies whose mothers have Asian ancestry. Especially considering the comments above about their baby having EIF and being totally healthy! This bright spot is due to a bit of calcium in one of the muscles that attaches to the heart valve. 8 found an isolated echogenic focus to be 8% sensitive in . Nevertheless, you should consult your primary care physician or Ob/Gyn doctor when you have any doubts or multiple risk factors of Trisomy 21 so you and your doctor can discuss the next best course of action. Although some studies have reported that the number or location of echogenic foci affects the risk of fetal aneuploidy (higher risk with biventricular or right ventricular involvement), the general consensus is that these factors have not been proven to matter. Some researchers think single umbilical artery (SUA) might be associated with slightly smaller babies or delivering a few days early. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Echogenic Intracardiac Focus: A bright white dot in the fetal heart An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a bright white spot in the fetal heart that looks like a tiny golf ball. Echogenic Intracardiac Focus: A bright white dot in the fetal heart An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a bright white spot in the fetal heart that looks like a tiny golf ball. Create an account or log in to participate. which is a little cute if you think about it! Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF) found on heart = soft marker for Some doctors think that the bright spot is due to an area of the heart muscle where more calcium than average has collected. My question is why bother? EIFs are found in about 35% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems. I ended up getting a level 2 ultrasound (for something else- my second baby was born with a birth defect and it could happen again), but they checked on the marker on the heart and the specialist said her daughter had one as well and it was nothing. Sonographic identification of an echogenic intracardiac focus was associated with a fourfold increased risk of Down syndrome (risk ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval 1.5-12.3). Researchers have noted an association between an EIF and a chromosome problem in the baby. Isolated EIF and negative NIPT. "An EIF is a bright spot in one of the chambers of the . Management options for echogenic intracardiac focus and choroid plexus Epidemiology They are thought to be present in ~4-5% of karyotypically normal fetuses. No further exploration is needed and regular checkups should be scheduled normally. I was told the same thing at our anatomy scan. Of course, this isnt an exact number. Areas of the body that have more calcium, such as bones, show up brighter on an ultrasound. An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a small spot (sometimes two spots) in the fetal heart that appear to be as white as bone during an ultrasound examination. The first figure below shows how a normal heart looks on an ultrasound. Copyright Rachel Rodgers Design 2021. Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a relatively common sonographic observation that may be present on an antenatal ultrasound scan. It is so common in babies with Asian ethnicity that it can't even be used as a marker. A Biblioteca Virtual em Sade uma colecao de fontes de informacao cientfica e tcnica em sade organizada e armazenada em formato eletrnico nos pases da Regio Latino-Americana e do Caribe, acessveis de forma universal na Internet de modo compatvel com as bases internacionais. The word cyst implies something that shouldnt be there, and a cyst that has formed in the brain really sounds scary. Can be observed 1 in 5 pregnancy, during second and third trimester. Im sure many of you have heard of this book or read it already; its simply a MUST-READ for new and even experienced parents.