An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a relatively common finding, even in otherwise normal fetuses. It is not a structural abnormality, but rather represents calcified deposits in the fetal heart that appear as bright spots on prenatal ultrasound.
When seen in isolation, with no other fetal abnormalities
If other anomalies are detected:
An EIF is the presence of echogenic tissue in one or both of the cardiac ventricles, and is observed on the four chamber fetal cardiac view. EIFs may also be referred to as a Papillary Muscle Calcification. EIFs are a fairly common second trimester subjective finding, seen in 4-7% of euploid fetuses and in 15-30% of fetuses with Trisomy 21/Down syndrome. Multiple, bilateral or prominent EIFs are associated with slightly higher aneuploidy risk in some studies.
ACOG Practice Bulletin 226: Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities
ACOG Practice Bulletin 162: Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders
ACOG Practice Bulletin 175: Ultrasound in Pregnancy
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Locator-SMFM
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