Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Although the fetal sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 transverse segments have been previously reported after the 20th gestational week, there have been no reports during the first and early second trimester.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the SI and FS of 24 transverse segments in normal fetuses before the 20th gestational week.
METHODS: A total of 101 normal fetuses aged between 12 and 20 gestational weeks were examined. The displacement of the ventricular endocardium during the cardiac cycle was computed using speckle-tracking software (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). We analyzed the length of 24 end-diastolic lateral segments and the end-diastolic basal (seg1-6)- middle (Seg7-15)-apical (Seg16-24) distribution from the base to the apex of each ventricle, according to the method described by DeVore et al. The SI and FS were computed for each of the 24 segments by dividing the mid-basal-apical length by the transverse size.
RESULTS: The SI for each segment was independent of the gestational age. The SI of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle for segments 1-14, suggesting that the right ventricle was more spherical than the left ventricle in the basal segment only. The FS of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle in segments 1 to 2 and 13 to 24.
CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of the ventricles before 20 weeks of gestation differs from that between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. This difference may be related to myocardial densification or performance.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the SI and FS of 24 transverse segments in normal fetuses before the 20th gestational week.
METHODS: A total of 101 normal fetuses aged between 12 and 20 gestational weeks were examined. The displacement of the ventricular endocardium during the cardiac cycle was computed using speckle-tracking software (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). We analyzed the length of 24 end-diastolic lateral segments and the end-diastolic basal (seg1-6)- middle (Seg7-15)-apical (Seg16-24) distribution from the base to the apex of each ventricle, according to the method described by DeVore et al. The SI and FS were computed for each of the 24 segments by dividing the mid-basal-apical length by the transverse size.
RESULTS: The SI for each segment was independent of the gestational age. The SI of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle for segments 1-14, suggesting that the right ventricle was more spherical than the left ventricle in the basal segment only. The FS of the right ventricle was significantly lower than that of the left ventricle in segments 1 to 2 and 13 to 24.
CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of the ventricles before 20 weeks of gestation differs from that between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. This difference may be related to myocardial densification or performance.
摘要：
背景：尽管先前已在第20孕周后报道了24个横向节段的胎儿球形指数（SI）和缩短分数（FS），在孕早期和孕早期没有报告。
目的：本研究旨在阐明第20孕周前正常胎儿24个横段的SI和FS。
方法：共检查101例年龄在12至20孕周之间的正常胎儿。使用斑点追踪软件（GEHealthcare，密尔沃基,WI).我们分析了24个舒张末期外侧节段的长度和舒张末期基底（seg1-6）-中间（Seg7-15）-心尖（Seg16-24）从每个心室的基部到心尖的分布，根据DeVore等人描述的方法。通过将中基底顶端长度除以横向尺寸来计算24个节段中的每个节段的SI和FS。
结果：各段的SI与胎龄无关。对于第1-14段，右心室的SI显着低于左心室，这表明仅在基底段，右心室比左心室更球形。右心室的FS在第1～2节和第13～24节显著低于左心室。
结论：妊娠20周前的心室形态与妊娠20至40周时的不同。这种差异可能与心肌致密化或表现有关。
目的：本研究旨在阐明第20孕周前正常胎儿24个横段的SI和FS。
方法：共检查101例年龄在12至20孕周之间的正常胎儿。使用斑点追踪软件（GEHealthcare，密尔沃基,WI).我们分析了24个舒张末期外侧节段的长度和舒张末期基底（seg1-6）-中间（Seg7-15）-心尖（Seg16-24）从每个心室的基部到心尖的分布，根据DeVore等人描述的方法。通过将中基底顶端长度除以横向尺寸来计算24个节段中的每个节段的SI和FS。
结果：各段的SI与胎龄无关。对于第1-14段，右心室的SI显着低于左心室，这表明仅在基底段，右心室比左心室更球形。右心室的FS在第1～2节和第13～24节显著低于左心室。
结论：妊娠20周前的心室形态与妊娠20至40周时的不同。这种差异可能与心肌致密化或表现有关。
