CĂtĂlin Gabriel Herghelegiu1, Adrian NeacȘu1, Raluca Chircurescu2, Doru Herghelegiu1, Silviu Cristian Voinea3, Camelia Diaconu4,5, Ovidiu Stiru6,7, Cornel Savu8,9, Alexandru Filipescu1,10, Irina Balescu11, Nicolae Bacalbasa12,13,14, Nicolae Suciu1,15. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 2. Department of Pathology, "Polizu" Clinical Hospital, INSMC "Alessandrescu-Rusescu", Bucharest, Romania. 3. Department of Surgical Oncology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania. 6. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 7. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, "Prof. Dr. C.C. Iliescu" Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Bucharest, Romania. 8. Department of Thoracic Surgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. 9. Department of Thoracic Surgery, "Marius Nasta" National Institute of Pneumology, Bucharest, Romania. 10. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Elias" Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. 11. Department of Visceral Surgery, "Ponderas" Academic Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. 12. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; nicolae_bacalbasa@yahoo.ro. 13. Department of Visceral Surgery, Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, "Fundeni" Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. 14. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. 15. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Polizu" Clinical Hospital, INSMC "Alessandrescu-Rusescu", Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The incidence of early pregnancy loss widely varies according to age, being considerably higher in older women. Severe congenital malformations play an important role in pregnancy loss, having a high risk of recurrence. Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital abnormalities, thus the diagnosis of such malformations in aborted embryos is important for establishing both a possible cause for pregnancy loss and for correctly counseling the parents. Pathologic examination of the heart that is only a few millimeters in size, is very challenging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A pathologic examination protocol using transverse microscopic sections at the level of the 4-chamber and 3-vessel planes is proposed for heart evaluation. RESULTS: Two 9-10 gestational weeks embryos were microscopically examined using transverse slides of the thorax. The 4-chamber and 3-vessel slides were analyzed and compared to 11-13 weeks ultrasound images of the 4-chamber and 3-vessel views from 10 cases. The pathologic examination provided a detailed view of the ventricles, atria and great vessels, sometime surpassing even the ultrasound examination that was performed at a later gestational age. CONCLUSION: We consider our proposed pathologic examination protocol feasible for evaluating normal heart structures and ruling out severe congenital heart disease. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The incidence of early pregnancy loss widely varies according to age, being considerably higher in older women. Severe congenital malformations play an important role in pregnancy loss, having a high risk of recurrence. Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital abnormalities, thus the diagnosis of such malformations in aborted embryos is important for establishing both a possible cause for pregnancy loss and for correctly counseling the parents. Pathologic examination of the heart that is only a few millimeters in size, is very challenging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A pathologic examination protocol using transverse microscopic sections at the level of the 4-chamber and 3-vessel planes is proposed for heart evaluation. RESULTS: Two 9-10 gestational weeks embryos were microscopically examined using transverse slides of the thorax. The 4-chamber and 3-vessel slides were analyzed and compared to 11-13 weeks ultrasound images of the 4-chamber and 3-vessel views from 10 cases. The pathologic examination provided a detailed view of the ventricles, atria and great vessels, sometime surpassing even the ultrasound examination that was performed at a later gestational age. CONCLUSION: We consider our proposed pathologic examination protocol feasible for evaluating normal heart structures and ruling out severe congenital heart disease. Copyright
Authors: Mary T Donofrio; Anita J Moon-Grady; Lisa K Hornberger; Joshua A Copel; Mark S Sklansky; Alfred Abuhamad; Bettina F Cuneo; James C Huhta; Richard A Jonas; Anita Krishnan; Stephanie Lacey; Wesley Lee; Erik C Michelfelder; Gwen R Rempel; Norman H Silverman; Thomas L Spray; Janette F Strasburger; Wayne Tworetzky; Jack Rychik Journal: Circulation Date: 2014-04-24 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: J S Carvalho; L D Allan; R Chaoui; J A Copel; G R DeVore; K Hecher; W Lee; H Munoz; D Paladini; B Tutschek; S Yagel Journal: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 7.299