An ultrasound of a fetus can reveal many details about an unborn baby, including information about the heart.
With the increase in ultrasounds, echogenic cardiac focus has become a more common finding since it was first described in the 1980's. Also called bright spots, it refers to the number of echoes inside the left or right ventricle of the heart. It is seen on the ultrasound as a small white circular shape.
"It is estimated that over 4 percent of all fetuses have echogenic cardiac focus," says Dr. Chris Harman, director of the Center for Advanced Fetal Care at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Some research has suggested this finding is associated with a greater risk of a child having Down's syndrome. If a mother is found to have a fetus with echogenic cardiac focus, she may have a more detailed ultrasound to check for other ultrasound markers and she will be counseled about the significance of this finding.
Doctors often explain to patients that there are still many unanswered questions regarding echogenic cardiac focus.
"It is important to remember that most babies with an echogenic focus in the heart are completely normal," added Harman.
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