Snowman heart

Snowman sign refers to the configuration of the heart and the superior mediastinal borders resembling a snowman. This is seen in total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) type I (supracardiac type). It is also referred to as the figure of 8 sign.

It is an abnormality of the fetal circulation wherein the entire pulmonary venous flow is directed to the right atrium via the superior vena cava (SVC). All pulmonary veins join to form a common pulmonary vein which drains into a vertical vein. The vertical vein drains into the SVC via the innominate (brachiocephalic) vein.

The paratracheal shadow on the right is the prominent SVC and on the left is the vertical vein. The innominate vessel lies in the midline above base of heart. These three prominent vessels together form the head of the 'snowman'. The body is formed by the rest of the heart.

See also

• snowman sign (disambiguation)

Siehe auch:

• Lungenvenenfehlmündung
• Lungensequester
• Atriumseptumdefekt
• Scimitar-Syndrom
• Lungenhypoplasie
• Vena portae
• Vena cava inferior
• Situs ambiguus
• Vena cava superior
• Lebervenen
• totale Lungenvenenfehlmündung
• pulmonary venolobar syndrome
• Zyanotischer Herzfehler

und weiter:

• partielle Lungenvenenfehlmündung
• scimitar syndrome: diagnosis with Fast MR imaging