Ectopia cordis 

Binodini M. Chauhan, MD.

Surat, India.

Case report

The following images and video show a case of the ectopia cordis diagnosed at 16 weeks of pregnancy of a 24 years old woman with non contributive history. The parents opted for the termination of the pregnancy.

Images 1, 2, and 3: 16 weeks of pregnancy; the image 1 shows a sagittal scan of the fetus with a prominence above the insertion of the umbilical cord, representing ectopic fetal heart. The fetal thorax doesn"t contain a typical cardiac structure. The image 2 represents a transverse scan at the level of the stomach (ST). In the ventral part of the abdomen a hypoechoic protrusion, representing the ectopic heart, can be seen (arrow). The image 3 shows color Doppler transverse scan of the fetal abdomen at the level of the stomach. A rich Doppler signal can be seen in the place of the ectopic heart, continuing as the umbilical cord.    

Images 4, 5: 16 weeks of pregnancy; the images show oblique transverse scans of the fetal abdomen with the ectopic heart protruding to the anterior wall defect just above the insertion of the umbilical cord.

Images 6, 7: 16 weeks of pregnancy; the images show transverse scans of the fetal abdomen with the ectopic heart (FH) protruding to the anterior wall defect just above the insertion of the umbilical cord (UC). ST - stomach.

Images 8, 9: 16 weeks of pregnancy; the images show 3D scans of the fetus with the prominence above the umbilical cord insertion, caused by the ectopic heart.

Video 1: 16 weeks of pregnancy; the video shows several views of the fetal abdomen with the pulsation of the ectopic heart protruding to the anterior wall defect just above the umbilical cord insertion.