Echogenic intracardiac focus

Echogenic Intracardiac Focus

Echogenic intracardiac focus (pronunciation: eh-ko-jen-ik in-tra-kar-dee-ak fo-kus) is a small bright spot seen in the baby's heart on an ultrasound exam. This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. Echogenic intracardiac focus is typically harmless and resolves on its own.

Etymology

The term "echogenic intracardiac focus" is derived from the following words: "echo" from the Greek word "ēchos" meaning sound, "genic" from the Greek word "gennan" meaning to produce, "intra" from the Latin word "intra" meaning within, "cardiac" from the Greek word "kardiakos" meaning pertaining to the heart, and "focus" from the Latin word "focus" meaning point of origin.

Related Terms

• Echogenicity: The ability of a tissue to create an echo, or return the ultrasound waves.
• Intracardiac: Within the heart.
• Ultrasound: A test that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body.
• Calcification: The process in which tissues or blood vessels become hardened due to calcium deposits.

See Also

• Congenital Heart Defect
• Fetal Ultrasound
• Cardiology

References

• Medical Ultrasound
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Echogenic intracardiac focus
• Wikipedia's article - Echogenic intracardiac focus

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