Calcification of the fetal heart--four case reports and a literature review

Abstract

Calcification of the heart and vessels in fetuses is a rare condition. It may be dystrophic or metastatic. An extremely rare form of vascular calcification has been termed 'idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy', which is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. We report four cases of myocardial calcifications of different origin diagnosed in utero. The correct diagnosis is very important in regard to genetic counselling.