cystic hygroma reoccurance

I WAS RECENTLY PREGNANT, IT WAS MY 1ST PREGNACY WHEN I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL TO GET MY 1ST SONOGRAM THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THE BABY HAD CYSTIC HYGROMA AND IT WAS BIGGER THAN THE AVERAGE SIZE AND THAT IT WAS BEST THAT I TERMINATED MY PREGNACY. BEFORE I DECIDED TO ABORT I DID THE CVS TEST AND THE DOCTOR THAT PERFORMED THE TEST CALLED ME UP TO LET ME KNOW THAT SHE DIDNT GET ANY OF THE BABY CELLS ALL SHE GOT WAS MATERNAL CELLS. SHE OFFERED TO REDO THE TEST BUT AT THAT TIME SHE TOLD ME THAT THE SAC OF LIQUID HAD GOTTEN BIGGER AND WAS STARTING TO SPREAD. AT THAT TIME I WAS AFRAID AND WORRIED SO I TOLD HER THAT I WANTED TO TERMINATE THE PREGNACY AND HAVE SOME OF THE TISSUE TESTED SO THAT I CAN KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED AND IF IT'LL OCCUR AGAIN. AFTER I TOOK THE BABY OUT I WAITED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND SHE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THE CELLS DIDNT GET TO MATURE SO THEY COULDNT TELL ME WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE GENETIC COUNSOLER TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A CHROMOSOME PROBLEM AND THAT THE CHANCES OF IT HAPPEN AGAIN WAS VERY LOW. DO TO THE TESTING GOING WRONG AND THE CELLS NOT MATURE I AM AFRAID TO GET PREGNANT AGAIN. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY OF MAKING SURE IT WOULDNT OCCUR AGAIN. AND HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT IT WAS  A CHROMOSOME PROBLEM. SHE SAID THAT CHROMOSOME PROBLEMS OCCUR RANDOMLY. SO WHAT ARE THE RISK OF IT HAPPENING ALL AGAIN IN MY NEXT PREGNACY
                             THANK U

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Cystic hygroma is a cystic lymphatic lesion which is present at birth or may develop later on. Chromosomal abnormalities is common in this disease and it has been noted to be more common in persons with Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, and trisomy 18 and 13.
According to American college of obstetricians and gynecologists, birth defects are idiopathic(cause not known) in 70% cases and due to some genetic or hereditary defect in rest of the cases. Various tests are done at different trimesters to check out any birth defects. In the first trimester, blood tests measuring the levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and hCG are done. Apart from that, an ultrasound examination called nuchal translucency screening (NTS) can give an idea about birth defects if any. If any abnormality is found in these tests then a detailed ultrasound examination is done at 18 weeks gestation. During the second trimester, quad screen test which measures Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol, hCG, and Inhibin-A can be done. This test is specific for Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18 and other neural tube defects. Usually combination of the above mentioned tests is sufficient to detect any birth defect. In case any doubt is there, then detailed ultrasound exam, Amniocentesis(procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid and cells are withdrawn from the sac surrounding the fetus and tested) and  chorionic villus sampling(procedure in which a small sample of cells from the placenta is tested) can be done.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing. Take care and regards.