Objective: This study was designed to measure the length ,diameter and its ratio of coronary sinus (CS) in the fetus using echocardiography and to get the normal values of the CS size and discuss the clinic purpose of dilated CS .
Methods: The study group included 218 normal fetuses undergoing fetal echocardiography from the 20th to the 40th weeks of gestation. The length ,diameter and its ratio of CS was visualized on real time ultasound and their standard values of the CS size were build,and to evaluate 8 fetus with dilated CS.
Results: there are positive correlation bewteem the length ,diameter of CS in normal fetus and the weeks of gestation. (L=-0.94+0.4weeks,r=0.661,P<0.001;D=-0.07+0.08weeks,r=0.433,P<0.001). But the ratio of diameter and length stayed constant through pregnancy(D/L=0.21±0.04mm),and D/L ratio did not vary significant through pregnancy(r=0.115,P=0.08).
Conclusions: The measurement of diameter and ratio of diameter and length in fetal CS might be an important quantitative paremeter for prenatal screening on fetal cardiac or extracardiac malformation.