echogenic foci found during anatomy scan

Shyski

Hi all I was just wondering if anyone has had this diagnosis. We are going to a fetal heart specialist next week but I'd like to know everyones thoughts and experiences on the subject. Thanks as always for the advice!

g8orell

Yes, I had it with DD - it's called a Left Ventricular Echogenic Focus...it's a soft marker for Downs Syndrome, but SUPER common. My OB didn't make a big deal out of it, but being in the medical field and having a dad as a cardiologist, I freaked out. So she sent me to a perinatologist for a level II u/s. During it, he said she was perfect and she's 1 today and is! I had no risk of DS though and I was 28 when I was pregnant with her.

I saw the same peri a few weeks ago for this baby's NT scan and DD was with me. He commented on her and I told him that he saw her at 21 wks. He asked why and I said the LVEF...and he said "oh, I hate those, I have 6 pts at day with those"...he told me that he thinks they are taking it off the list of markers for DS b/c it is so common.

Don't worry!!!

Shyski

g8orell:

Yes, I had it with DD - it's called a Left Ventricular Echogenic Focus...it's a soft marker for Downs Syndrome, but SUPER common. My OB didn't make a big deal out of it, but being in the medical field and having a dad as a cardiologist, I freaked out. So she sent me to a perinatologist for a level II u/s. During it, he said she was perfect and she's 1 today and is! I had no risk of DS though and I was 28 when I was pregnant with her.

I saw the same peri a few weeks ago for this baby's NT scan and DD was with me. He commented on her and I told him that he saw her at 21 wks. He asked why and I said the LVEF...and he said "oh, I hate those, I have 6 pts at day with those"...he told me that he thinks they are taking it off the list of markers for DS b/c it is so common.

Don't worry!!!

This is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for. My DH and I are dealing with the same fears but I think we can relax a bit more now. Thank you!

*kendrick*

I was literally coming to post about this when I saw your post! We just found out a few hours ago that our level-2 u/s shows one of these. Because we have an increased NTD/Trisomy risk because of high AFP we requested (another) meeting with a genetic counselor. This + increased Trisomy 18 risk is worth a second opinion to us. Our dr is not at all concerned since there is just one and everything else looks good from the nuchal fold measurement and level-2 u/s (no other visible deformities) which both could show Trisomy 18 deformities. He doesn't think ours has anything to do with a heart issue.

*kendrick*

g8orell:

Yes, I had it with DD - it's called a Left Ventricular Echogenic Focus...it's a soft marker for Downs Syndrome, but SUPER common. My OB didn't make a big deal out of it, but being in the medical field and having a dad as a cardiologist, I freaked out. So she sent me to a perinatologist for a level II u/s. During it, he said she was perfect and she's 1 today and is! I had no risk of DS though and I was 28 when I was pregnant with her.

I saw the same peri a few weeks ago for this baby's NT scan and DD was with me. He commented on her and I told him that he saw her at 21 wks. He asked why and I said the LVEF...and he said "oh, I hate those, I have 6 pts at day with those"...he told me that he thinks they are taking it off the list of markers for DS b/c it is so common.

Don't worry!!!

It is great to hear your positive story!  Question for you- wouldn't the actual name of it depend on where on the heart it is, or are you saying that it only occurs on the left ventrical? Our doctor didn't talk  location on the heart with us.

g8orell

*kendrick*:

g8orell:

Yes, I had it with DD - it's called a Left Ventricular Echogenic Focus...it's a soft marker for Downs Syndrome, but SUPER common. My OB didn't make a big deal out of it, but being in the medical field and having a dad as a cardiologist, I freaked out. So she sent me to a perinatologist for a level II u/s. During it, he said she was perfect and she's 1 today and is! I had no risk of DS though and I was 28 when I was pregnant with her.

I saw the same peri a few weeks ago for this baby's NT scan and DD was with me. He commented on her and I told him that he saw her at 21 wks. He asked why and I said the LVEF...and he said "oh, I hate those, I have 6 pts at day with those"...he told me that he thinks they are taking it off the list of markers for DS b/c it is so common.

Don't worry!!!

It is great to hear your positive story!  Question for you- wouldn't the actual name of it depend on where on the heart it is, or are you saying that it only occurs on the left ventrical? Our doctor didn't talk  location on the heart with us.

I'm not 100% but what I can remember from my OB rotation in school, it's only in the left ventricle.

Oliver715

I just posted about this. I already went to the specialist and they found another marker. The doc still didnt seem too worried and told me to relax. Our lo spot was on the ventricle, too. It's worrysome to hear ANYTHING "wrong" at all, but it will be ok. It sounds like the spot is very common. Our doc said 1:15 pregnancies! good Luck and keep us updated.

goldenleaves

Ryan had an echogenic foci found at his anatomy scan. They had me come back to recheck it a few weeks later, it was still there.

We chose not to do any additional testing. Ryan was born and has no chromosomal abnormalities!