Fetal echocardiographic findings in right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication (RPALA com) is a fatal congenital heart disease with right-to-left shunting. We present a rare case of RPALA com that was prenatally diagnosed and confirmed by autopsy. We focus on some unique echocardiographic findings for prenatal diagnosis of RPALA com by reviewing our case and the literature. Asymmetric cardiomegaly with a pear sign and dilatation of the pulmonary artery might be useful for screening tests. A larger stalk with the pear sign, high-velocity of shunt flow, and absence of a dilated pulmonary vein might support the prenatal diagnosis of RPALA com.

Keywords:

• Congenital heart disease
• echocardiography
• prenatal diagnosis
• right pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
• right pulmonary artery to left atrium communication

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a KAKENHI Grant [grant number 15K19666] from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.