Echogenic Cardiac Focus and Bilateral Choroid Plexus Cysts

My wife and I just came back from our level II u/s and we were told that our baby has an echogenic cardiac focus and bilateral choroid plexus cysts.
We were also told at the same appointment that our quad screening came back negative.
All the limbs appear to be normal, the baby has his nasal bone, and was very active.
In fact, he was predicted to be a week ahead of where we expected.  My wife is 18 1/2 weeks, and by the numbers, the data was saying we were really 19 1/2 weeks.
Naturally, we are both confused and concerned.
The doctor offered an amnio as an option because we have these two "soft markers."  
I know that the amnio will tell us for sure, but I just don't know what these two markers being present mean for the odds of Down syndrome.
Does anyone have any experience they can share?

[karma530]

My daughter had both an EIF and multiple Choroid Plexus Cysts found at her 20 week ultrasound.  By the 28 week ultrasound, the Choroid Plexus Cysts were gone.  The EIF was still there, but that was to be expected, as a calcification doesn't just disappear.  I cried and stressed for weeks, but then gave it all to God and knew that what was meant to be would be.  And my beautiful baby girl was born in April of 2010, as happy and HEALTHY as could be :)  So don't stress, Dad... they're SOFT markers for a reason..and they are SO common.  My midwife told me she would bet that nearly ALL babies have Choroid Plexus Cysts at one point or another, but a lot of ultrasounds aren't done during that 1 or 2 week time span where they can be seen...and then they disappear on their own!  And even if they don't disappear, there are children (and adults) who still have cysts in their brain and it does not cause any change in development or learning abilities.
Not sure if you and your wife are planning to do the amnio.  I did not, as it is around a 20% chance of miscarriage.  I knew I would love my little girl no matter what...and I do!  And she is absolutely perfect.  Your little boy will be too!  God doesn't give us more than we can handle.  The best thing you can do now is to support your wife.  Make sure she isn't stressing about these findings, as that can cause more harm to the baby than anything else.  Just relax, and in a few months, you will get to meet your PERFECT baby boy :)

- Kara

[mml55]

Hi, I was just wondering what u ended up doing in that situation. How is your baby boy? I am in the same situation. I had my level II u/s yesterday and they found echogenic cardiac focus on one of the babies heart. I am carrying fraternal twins. They told me the same thing that it is a soft marker for d/s. They also have bilateral choroid plexus cysts. They told me to do an amnio as well but with twins, it is double the risks of miscarriage. I really don't know what to do. I'm 18 wks and 5 days. The hardest part about all this is that I don't want to risk losing the babies but i can't seem to relax after finding out. My husband wants to know just for peace of mind and I do too but its too risky. I don't know anyone who has had an amnio done.