Anyone else's baby have an echogenic focus in the left ventricle of its heart?

[ScotGirlInOz]

Hi
I had a big scan at 19 weeks (routine in Oz) and baby was noted to have a small echogenic focus in its left venticle of his/her heart. Apparently can be a soft marker for aneuploidy (chromosonal change ie. down syndrome). On its own however an echogenic focus is a bright spot, some sort of calcium in the baby's heart. We decided to get a second scan done and consultant told us our chances were 1:12,000 and to enjoy the rest of our pregnancy. Were pretty worried at the time but the guy was an expert and told us we didn't need an amnio. Also an echogenic focus is quite common in the second trimester and in the majority of cases the baby is born without the focus. It does not restrict the heart from beating normally either.

Am 23 weeks pregnant today, second pregnancy, nuchal test was fine. Anyone else had an echogenic focus noted?

Thanks

ScotGirlInOz

My dd2 had one noted. It does increase your risk of having a child with down syndrome. My dd1 has down syndrome and a congenital heart defect. Anyway what we were told ( where abouts in Aus are you - I am in Brisbane) is that more often than not the equipment is so high tech it is picking up things that would never have been picked up previously and more often than not - these things resolve themselves.

In dd2's case it did - not seen at 36 week scan and at this stage she has no issues with her heart.

thanks eidsvold
I am in Perth but we were travelling round Oz at the time. 19 week scan was done in Emerald and then second scan was done at Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. Yeah doctor we saw for second scan said that if he could see every woman at the nuchal scan stage, he would be able to tell her if the baby did or did not have down syndrome just from ultrasound alone. Amazing that they only started looking for down syndrome in 2001 by ultrasound when the guy who first examined a child with down syndrome spoke about the nuchal fold and nasal bone not being present was in the 1800's. I have a cousin who's son has down syndrome, he is 11 at the end of the month and a right little character. How old is your dd1?

my dd1 is five - pics on my profile if you click on the little clipboard.

Hi Had this with dd3 and she was fine (also dilated kidneys). Consultant told me it's seen quite a lot especially when using the high resolution scanners. She also sees it in adult scans, where it's not even noted. I think any possible 'problems' may be suspected if seen in conjucntion with other 'markers' - your consultant sounds happy enough so I would try and relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy

I read everything I could find on echogenic focus/foci / golfballs when my 14 week ultrasound revealed this in my baby's left ventricle. I panicked until he was born as I was told it was more common in babies with Downs Syndrome or other chromosomal problems and my risk factor was doubled as a result of the find. At his 32 week scan an abnormally large bi-parietal diameter (the width of the head between the ears) was found and this too could be an indicator of problems. I just wanted to reassure others that my baby was born with no heart or chromosomal problems and a normal looking head! - and is a healthy boy who weighed over eight pounds.