Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of ectopia cordis.

Objective: We present a small series of prenatally diagnosed cases of ectopia cordis.

Methods: Four fetuses with prenatally diagnosed ectopia cordis were sonographically evaluated and followed up.

Results: The fetuses were diagnosed with ectopia cordis at 9, 13, 21, and 29 weeks' menstrual age. The case diagnosed at 9 weeks is the earliest prenatal diagnosis reported, to our knowledge. The diagnoses were based on the demonstration of a fetal heart outside the thoracic cavity with Doppler waveforms typical of intracardiac flow. One fetus had isolated ectopia cordis, and 3 had other associated anolmalies. The diagnosis was postnatally confirmed in all cases. Therapeutic abortion was done in 2 cases. One infant survived, and the fourth died shortly after birth. Chromosome study was successfully performed in 2 cases and was normal in both of them.

Conclusions: This small series suggests that ectopia cordis can be readily diagnosed in utero as early as the first trimester. Later in pregnancy, sonography provides important information for planning surgical correction.