Prenatal Diagnosis of a Ductal-Dependent Branch Pulmonary Artery: Extra Vessels in the 3-Vessel and Trachea View

Abstract

Obtaining a three-vessel (3V) and three-vessel and trachea (3VT) view from the fetal upper mediastinum is now considered to be part of standard imaging protocol for routine obstetric cardiac screening examinations. We report two fetal cases of an anomalous pulmonary artery origin, utilizing the standard 3V and 3VT views. Further imaging led to a rare diagnosis of bilateral ductus arteriosus with discontinuous branch pulmonary arteries in the absence of any other congenital heart defect. We briefly discuss the imaging features, differential diagnoses, and management of this rare entity.

Keywords

• bilateral ductus
• anomalous pulmonary artery
• prenatal diagnosis
• 3-vessel view
• fetal echocardiography