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Book Review
A Practical Guide to Fetal Echocardiography: Normal and Abnormal Hearts, 2nd ed. By Alfred Abuhamad and
Rabih Chaoui. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 384 pp. 2009. $129 hardcover. (ISBN: 978-0781797573)

he second edition of Abuhamad

and Chaouis A Practical Guide
to Fetal Echocardiography: Normal and Abnormal Hearts is a
comprehensive volume covering the study of
the fetal heart, primarily targeted at physicians and sonographers involved in prenatal
care. The first several chapters provide the
reader with broad, general information regarding congenital heart disease, epidemiology, genetics, and prenatal screening techniques. Subsequent chapters focus on anatomic landmarks of the normal fetal heart
and great vessels as well as basic tenets of
ultrasound and echocardiography and include a chapter on echocardiography in early
gestation. The latter half of the text covers
various congenital cardiac anomalies and
their typical echocardiographic findings.
Each topic is logically presented in a clear
manner. The background and technical chapters early in the book provide solid fundamental concepts without unnecessary detail.
The later chapters covering the fetal cardiac
anomalies are oriented toward the practical,
with several tips for optimal imaging tech-

niques and advice on what types of views

best show various abnormalities. These later
chapters all follow the same basic outline:
definition, spectrum of disease, and incidence; ultrasound findings, including gray
scale, Doppler sonography, early gestation,
and 3D ultrasound; associated cardiac and
extracardiac findings; differential diagnosis;
and prognosis and outcome. Whenever different pathologies may present with similar
findings, thorough differential lists and tables
are provided to facilitate diagnosis. Concise
summaries in bullet format at the end of each
topic further emphasize key points, and a
wealth of references are available at the end
of each chapter for the reader to pursue as
desired for better understanding.
The echocardiographic images included
in the text are excellent. Whenever possible,
several images are typically present for each
anomaly, including gray scale, color and pulsed
Doppler, and 3D images, all of which show
key findings in different pathologic states. Additional detailed schematic diagrams and anatomic specimen photographs complement the
echocardiographic images superbly.

The authors also place special emphasis

on early trimester evaluation. In addition to
an entire chapter on early gestational ultrasound, the later chapters covering the various cardiac anomalies all include a section
describing what specific findings, if any, may
be detected in early trimester screening and
early echocardiography.
Significant flaws in this book are hard to
find. Several of the abnormalities discussed
may have few if any identifiable features in
early gestational ultrasound, but that is not
surprising. Overall, this is a truly outstanding,
easy-to-read volume covering a vast number
of complex fetal cardiac disorders with appropriate clinical, epidemiologic, and technical
background. This book would make a welcome addition to the collection of any physician or sonographer involved in the care of
pregnant patients, or anyone interested in the
evaluation of congenital heart disease.
Andrew W. Bowman
Mayo Clinic Florida
Jacksonville, FL
DOI:10.2214/AJR.10.4870
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AJR 2010; 195:W479 0361803X/10/1956W479 American Roentgen Ray Society

AJR:195, December 2010

W479