Fig. 5

Multiplanar slicing of TCA in a fetus of 28 gestational weeks. Panels a, b, and c represent three orthogonal planes (A, transverse; B, sagittal; and C, coronal). The cardiac apex in the 4CV was oriented upwards and the reference point (indicated by the green arrow) was placed in the crux of the heart in Panel a (A). Move the reference point to the position of the outflow tracts (at the basal part of the ventricles, near the crux of the heart) in Panel a. By adjusting the position of the reference point in Panel a, a great artery could be visualized in Panel b. A VSD could also be identified (B). Moving the reference point to the valve (C) and then navigating along the artery (D) in Panel b, we could then confirm that only one great artery arising from both ventricles (mainly from the right ventricle) in Panel a. This great artery is aorta. The pulmonary artery was visualized arising from the root of aorta in Panel a. AO, aorta; LV, left ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery; RV, right ventricle; TCA, truncus arteriosus; VSD, ventricular septal defect