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12-07-2012 at 11:14 AM
michellemu...
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michellemueller is not online. Last active: 05-14-2013, 8:51 PMNewbie

Bright echo in heart seen at 18 week ultrasound

Monday, my husband and I had our 18 week u/s and learned we would be having a little girl:)  Everything looked good on the u/s so we left the appointment happy and excited.  3 days later we received a call from the doc saying after the perintalogist reviewed the u/s and he noticed a "bright echo in the left chamber" of her heart.  The doc said this has nothing to do with the development of the heart but it has "a weak association for an increased risk for down syndrome".  Of course I am freaking out even though she said it's a weak association.  In the past year, my sister had a stillborn at 40 weeks and 2 days and I've had one miscarriage.  So I was already on edge about this pregnancy and hearing this news has sent me overboard.  We have a level 2 u/s scheduled for 2 weeks.  Please, if anyone has encountered a similar situation, please share your experience or input.  What can I expect at the level 2 u/s?  The good thing is at this time, I have no other markers for DS, but hearing that I now have one marker is scary.  Please, please, please share your stories and opinions.
 
12-07-2012 at 11:25 AM
ShadyKull
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When I had my anatomy scan at 18 weeks, they called me the next week saying that they thought there was an echogenic bowel (a bright spot in the bowels), which is also a possibly weak marker for cystic fibrosis, Down's or other abnormalities. Like you, I was very worried at first.

They scheduled me for a level 2 u/s at a big medical center in Boston the following week. While I was there, I met with a genetic counselor who explained in more detail what an echogenic bowel might indicate and talked over the options. I choose to have blood work done which would rule in/out a trisomy abnormality. I had also already had blood work done for CF (came back negative). Then I went and had my u/s done with a tech. At the end of the u/s session a doctor specialist came in to take a look. He basically said that he was seeing no signs of an echogenic bowel or any other possible abnormalities. Phew! He also said that sometimes these things happen due to viewer error (having doctors just view pictures and not view the actual u/s screen) and the somewhat subjective nature of determining echogenic spots. He also said that it happens more often for thin women because of the higher level of sound waves bouncing around in there. A week later, I got confirmation that it was nothing from the bloodwork

Sorry this was long, but try not to worry. It seems like there is very high incidence of these things being absolutely nothing. 


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12-07-2012 at 11:26 AM
MotherMayE...
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I have read a lot of women say they had u/s show a bright spot in their baby's heart (calcium deposit) and they went on to resolve on their own and they had babies with typical chromosomes.

Also, I have had a level 2 u/s with my last baby and have one scheduled in January because my sister had twins with heart defects. It is just an u/s that is focused on viewing the heart.

Try not to worry!


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12-07-2012 at 11:27 AM
scj110610
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our 1st tri bloodwork showed 1:100 chance of Down's so we had the MaterniT21 test which came back negative for all three trisomies. Then our level II ultrasound showed the baby is missing its middle pinky digit - a soft marker for down's. After all i went thru those few weeks before the scan, we have decided that it is what it is and we can't change it. i've just stopped worrying about it. its always in the back of my mind but if its true, so be it. we've opted out of  anymore testing because it seems like it only results in unnecessary worry which i do not need right now!!   i hope your scan reveals that all is fine and baby is healthy!

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12-07-2012 at 12:22 PM
asibilrud
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I received news at my 20 A/S that my son has a calcium deposit in his heart. Naturally I was FREAKING OUT!!! I had to go to a well-known baby hospital an hour away for a follow up appt. The dr. there told me that it is indeed a soft marker for downs, but that he wished that science wouldn't worry people because it is so insignificant.

I opted to take the MaterniT21 test which only tests blood from the mother. it test for all three trisonomies. I waited an excruciatingly long 2 weeks for my results which came back negative. I realized since then that I was merely ignorant of what an EIF really was, and how many thousands and thousands of babies are born with this calcium deposit, yet are completely healthy. Please don't worry, as I was SOOOO worried and it turned out to be absolutely nothing!


 
12-07-2012 at 12:22 PM
apk413
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I had the same think at 19 weeks with our little girl! I am going to the DR on Tuesday for another ultrasound. I have no other markers either. I KNOW both of our babies will be fine! This is very common and I have been told that it is unheard of to have a DS baby with just this marker. And my DR said it is a very SOFT marker, and it is so common that it almost should not be a marker. Good luck! 

 
12-07-2012 at 1:58 PM
izasweet_t...
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We have had the same exact situation with our little boy.  But don't worry, everything is going to be just fine!

 

Around 18 weeks we went for our anatomy ultrasound and found out we were having a little boy.  The ultrasound tech measured everything and said that it all looked great!  The only thing was that he was such a wiggle worm that day she could not see his lower spine, so our local "ultrasound experts", which are located at a completely different office, would be contacting me to schedule a targeted ultrasound to find his lower spine.

 

We actually went yesterday for the targeted ultrasound, thinking everything was perfectly fine, they just wanted to see the lower spine.  A genetics counselor called us to the back room to chat and informed us of the "bright spot" that was found in our baby's heart.  She told us the same thing, that it was a red flag for down syndrome, that they just wanted to check to make sure everything is fine.  The ultrasound went great, our little boy is happily floating, kicking, he yawned and sucked on his fingers a bit.  The doctor said that this is a precaution type of thing that the chances of the baby having down syndrome is less than 2% at this point, that the measurements would detect more of what they feared would be down syndrome.  So be sure to ask questions, don't be nervous!  Your baby has SO much more time to grow and knock that little bright spot out of there.  Our doctor told us that the most common things that point to DS are the absence of the nose bone, abnormal measurements of like the arm and leg and other bright spots, like in the heart and kidney.  So if all they saw was the bright spot in the heart, stay calm!!  Don't let them worry you, your baby is fine and in much better hands than our own.  HE has yours and your babies best interest and is in control!!!  :) 

 
12-07-2012 at 7:30 PM
aleksandra...
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My son had an echogenic focus, and now he is a happy, healthy 2 year old.  It is an extremely weak marker for DS, especially in isolation.  I really wouldn't worry about it at all, and I honestly wish doctors would stop telling patients about it as it just causes unnecessary anxiety (and I am a doctor myself).  
 
12-07-2012 at 10:19 PM
AshleaB12
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My sisterinlaw went for her 20 week ultrasound and they found an echogenic foci on her daughter's heart. They said that more than likely it would be gone by the time they did another ultrasound a month later. It wasn't gone and she went on to have multiple ultrasounds after that to keep an eye on it. It was the only marker the baby had that could possibly point to DS. It never did go away and she went on to have a healthy little girl with no problems whatsoever.

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12-08-2012 at 12:31 PM
AprilloMom
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Same thing happened to us at our 20 week US. Doctor assured us that it has no affect on the heart at all. He did mention it is a "soft marker" for downs. However, like PPs have mentioned, if it isn't matched with other markers (abnormal nasal bone, cleft palate/lip, abnormal femur measurements) Then it shouldn't increase your risk for a baby with Down Syndrome. Of course I freaked out like you did, teared up a little in the office, but our OB said in 26 years of practice he has never seen a "calcification" (also called an echogenic focus) be the ONLY marker and turn out to be a Downs case. He says that more studies are being done and showing how common these spots are, and that some doctors aren't even considering it (by itself) as a soft marker any more. Doctors are required to tell you, though, because it isn't within normal limits.  

We opted out of further testing. Mainly because none of the tests offered are conclusive other than an Amnio which we won't consider due to the risks involved. I felt like any of the other tests wouldn't put my mind at ease, and could only cause more stress. Our OB scheduled us for another US in 8 weeks and said most of the time the calcification has cleared on its own.  Hope this helps! 

PS: I tried not to google any of it because I though it would freak me out more, but it actually made me feel better realizing how common it is. 

Married July 2008 TTC 2010 After 6 cycles of Clomid and 1 cycle of Letrozole, we finally got a BFP on a break cycle. Due 4/21/13  
12-08-2012 at 3:04 PM
michellemu...
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michellemueller is not online. Last active: 05-14-2013, 8:51 PMNewbie
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and opinions.  I'm not going to lie, I'm still a little scared but I've decided to focus on the positive....that this is a soft marker and it almost always clears up.  I will keep you all updated after we have our level II u/s in 12 days.  Praying that all is okay with our baby girl!  For any of you going through this as well, I will keep you in my prayers.  Please keep me posted as your pregnancy progresses.  Thanks again.
 
12-08-2012 at 3:45 PM
Bacon+lett...
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How scary. I have nothing but prayers for you.

BFP 6/9/2011, due Valentine's day 2012! M/C @ 6 weeks. Miss you sweet tart.
Having a threesome with MeghanKG and NotQuiteBlushing. Best labor buddies EVAH!
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12-08-2012 at 9:49 PM
BoatsNHoes
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DD had this at our a/s and I made myself sick with worry. It was completely gone by 30 ish weeks and she is an incredibly healthy, thriving toddler. The drs I saw felt very strongly this should not be considered a soft marker for downs any more because it is so common in healthy babies.

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12-16-2012 at 7:57 PM
puppycup
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Had the same thing at my anatomy scan. . . And I freaked out like you. I have a beautiful healthy 10 month old girl! Try not to worry about it too much the odds r that everything is fine.
 
01-03-2013 at 2:14 PM
michellemu...
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michellemueller is not online. Last active: 05-14-2013, 8:51 PMNewbie
I had my level ll u/s and everything looks to be fine!!  What they thought was an echogenic foci is actually a "false tendon" which they said has no impact on the development of the baby.  Thanks for all of your comments/feedback!!
 
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