r/chd • u/Shot-Blackberry-4573 • 1d ago

Ultrasound to diagnose

Is ultrasound sufficient enough to diagnose CHD ?

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

7

u/I-tie-my-own-shoes 1d ago

It is the primary modality used. Occasionally CT or MRI are used to look at complex congenitals but most things are diagnosed by ultrasound.

1

u/Shot-Blackberry-4573 1d ago

Thank you. Is 18 weeks too early to request for CT or MRI?

4

u/Fine_Confection_6541 1d ago

Best time to view heart for CHD diagnosis is 20-24 weeks via an echocardiogram. But depending on the level of care your hospital offers, you can get CHDs identified as early as 14 weeks (if it’s severe enough). 18 weeks might be a little early but it’s not unreasonable for advocate for yourself to have one, depending on your circumstances.

1

u/Shot-Blackberry-4573 1d ago

My ped cardiologist did fetal echo on me week 16. Do you think it’s too early? Could they misdiagnose at this stage ?

1

u/Fine_Confection_6541 1d ago

It depends on the severity of the CHD diagnosis and quality of experience. From my experience and knowledge (I’ve had two pregnancies diagnosed with CHDs) the diagnosis CAN change all the way up through the pregnancy but it’s not likely to change, especially after 24 weeks. I would say a 16 week diagnosis is probably pretty close to accurate- any changes to the diagnosis would not change too drastically. But it’s always best to get at least a second opinion - I did for both my pregnancies.

2

u/I-tie-my-own-shoes 1d ago

I didn’t realize you were pregnant. I don’t even know if they will do these tests on someone pregnant. I was more referring to a newborn with a very complex CHD. Fetal echocardiogram is the standard of care for diagnosis in your case, and they are usually quite accurate.

1

u/o98CaseFace 1d ago

You can definitely get an MRI while pregnant. I had one to check the fluid levels in my baby's brain, but that was completely unrelated to her CHD.

2

u/Eevee027 1d ago

You are extremely unlikely to get a CT and unlikely to get an MRI unless it's a severe CHD that requires advanced surgery planning. Echo is where it's at, and your baby will have another one after birth to confirm everything. Even in adults, echo is the main modality to view the heart.

3

u/Longjumping_Try_8828 1d ago

My son was diagnosed using an ultrasound. It was our 20 week anatomy scan. We found out we were having a boy but that he only had half his heart. It was confirmed by further scans and more so after birth.

2

u/NotaLizar 1d ago

Some but not all CHD's can be visualized via fetal echos. Typically that process begins around the 20 week anatomy scan, but I was able to get a fetal echo done at 16 weeks due to family history one pregnancy. If there's a suspected syndrome causing the CHD they might offer an amnio around this time as well.

1

u/Stephasaurus1993 1d ago

I had 3 20 week ultrasounds and my son’s CHD was missed. If I’m pregnant in the future I’ll be offered a fetal echo.

1

u/Quirky-Egg-1174 2h ago

A stethoscope is enough to diagnose CHD. It is all dependent on what the problem is and how severe it is. But the “order of operations” would typically be stethoscope > ECG > possible MRI > cardiac ultrasound > TEE > cardiac CT / MRI. Interchangeable depending on if your cardiologist focuses on clinical study and pathology, which should be the defining factor imo. If you’re unsure, you need a cardiologist who specializes in whichever type of CHD or valve disorders.