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12-20-2012 at 8:12 AM
MommyLizzy
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MommyLizzy is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 8:12 AMBronze

Hotspot on heart in U/S

First time posting.

On Tuesday we had our anatomy ultrasound (found out its a boy!).  Everything was measuring great, everything with the pregnancy has been very normal, despite all my personal health problems. 

I was at a specialist (because of my health issues)  and I had the doctor and the radiologist in the room with me during the ultra sound.  towards the end they saw a "hotspot" on one of the upper part of the heart, I think its technically called a "echogenic cardiac focus" and he described it as a mineral build up on part of the muscle.

He said it was very common,  and he sees it multiple times everyday.  Something like 10% of pregnancy have it.  It doesn't cause heart problems but its a soft marker for Downs. as soon as he said down syndrome my heart dropped.  It was the only marker,  and the other tests we have done put us in a very low risk of it, but we are thinking of doing the Harmony/materniT21 test. 

Anyone else have that test done?  or had a hot spot found?  I'm trying not to worry, but I really cant help it. 


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12-20-2012 at 8:51 AM
HZ2012
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My advice would be to take the MaterniT21 so you can relax. It's a quick and easy blood test, and so worth it. I took it at week 12 same day as my NT scans because I'm "advanced maternal age" (ugh - only 34 lol) and was terrified of all of the talk about defects. I got my results back in 6 days and have been way more relaxed since. So I'm all for the blood test :)  

 
12-20-2012 at 8:56 AM
TX-Bride
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TX-Bride is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 9:23 PMGold
Our Dr saw it in the u/s he did prior to the scheduled amnio, I have to go back in 4 weeks for him to see it again. He wasn't very concerned about it, specially that we were getting an amnio, the amnio results came back last week and everything is fine. My Perinatalogist said it's not a calcified bone, because he cannot see a shadow of it, he said he has seen this often time and it gets dissolved by itself, but he still wants me to go back to him every 4 weeks to see how the progress is. My own OB, said as long as the Peri is not concerned, he would not be concerned, too.
 
12-20-2012 at 9:01 AM
jlaOK
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We had the same spot show up on DS's 18-week ultrasound.  We went to a high risk ultrasound doctor to do a follow up ultrasound.  That doctor didn't see anything and DS doesn't have Downs.  Our high risk doctor told us that ultrasound technology is so advanced that a lot of techs "see" spots that are really just part of the clarity of the image.  I would definitely do some additional testing, though, to ease any fears.

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12-20-2012 at 9:16 AM
MommyLizzy
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I have an appointment this afternoon with my regular OB. Im gonna tell him I want to have the test done.  I'm sure everything will be ok,  It's just worrisome.

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12-20-2012 at 10:13 AM
MotherMayE...
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I had the MatetniT21 test done at 11.5 weeks because I will be 42 when I deliver. I think you would be wise to have this simple blood test done and I really believe you will be relieved to find it comes back negative. I have heard so many people say they had the same finding in an U/S and it resolves itself and nothing ever comes of it. Good luck!

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12-20-2012 at 11:23 AM
mariamaria
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I didn't have the exact same finding, but both of my pregnancies have turned up one soft marker for DS. Last time it was CPCs on the brain and this time a mildly enlarged kidney. My OB said it is very unlikely each time that baby had DS since everything else looked perfectly fine, but last time i did have the test. I haven't yet this time, but will consider it to be certain. GL! I'm sure everything is just fine. It will likely be cleared up by the time of your next ultrasound.

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12-20-2012 at 11:49 AM
SouthSideD...
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SouthSideDrea is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 12:38 PMGold

With Hen we tested 1:12 for DS and had the white spot soft markers. We declined the amnio because we wouldn't have terminated, did some research and waited. By 38 weeks the white spot had resolved and we delivered a very healthy kid at 39+5.

It is really pretty common, it usually resolves. If you think you would terminate or if you feel like you need to know by all means get the amnio. Good luck.


Please forgive my typos! I'm not as dumb as my iphone would like you to believe :)
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12-20-2012 at 12:29 PM
nma1227
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My A/S also resulted in a spot on the heart.  Of course I freaked when the doctor said "could maybe be a sign for downs".  Then she went on to explain how normal it was and 10% of babies in the U.S. have it.  Everything else was completely normal.  Plus my NT and blod screens all were negative.  My odds are now 1:700 (which is lower than my age which is normally 1:440).  But I freaked!!!  She offered amnio or MT21 which she said was very pricey. 

I did TONS of research and it actually helped!  Many doctors don't even consider it a "marker" if it's by itself.  I have read lots and lots of stories of healthy babies that had an echogenic focus on A/S.  After a week of worrying constantly, now I feel completely relieved.  No additional testing for me!

12-20-2012 at 12:55 PM
jessiegirl...
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C had an echogenic cardiac focus on her heart at the a/s as well.  Our OB gave us the "its very common" speech and I did some research and found that up to 1 in 20 babies have one at 20 weeks.  Since I wasn't in any other risk categories and I wouldn't terminate, I just resolved to put it in the back of my mind.  She is a perfectly healthy and happy 18 month old now.

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