Abnormal Nuchal Fold Cystic Hygroma

I am 26 years old and had an ultrasound at 12 weeks 0 days to determine the likelihood of chromosonal abnormalities. Our baby's nuchal fold measurment came back elevated at 3.9 mm (normal = below 3.0 mm) and there was evidence of "white lines" at the back of the baby's neck which the Doctor called a "cystic hygroma." I am scheduled for a CVS this week.

I have done quite a bit of research but can not find a lot of information for a minimally elevated nuchal fold reading plus a cystic hygroma. Also, all of the definitions for cystic hygroma point to more of a tumor-like growth, and our doctor specifically only mentioned "white lines." Any input on what the lines mean, or what the meaning of all of this is, would be very much appreciated.

[mandymoo1983]

over here in australia our docs say anything under 4.0mm is ok although mine were both under 2 around 1.4 to 1.7 i think i dont no much about the hygroma but good luck let us no how it goes

[susanelizabeth]

I know this is going to be easier said than done but at 26 yo, I really dont think you need to worry. Ultrasounds especially that early are very unreliable.  The CVS test will tell you to a certainty what's going on but I am sure, it is just fine.  With my dd, I had high hcg levels early on (30,000 at ~5w4d) and I worried despite opting against the triple/quad screen for fear of false positives.  DD is fine and healthy.  And now with this pregnancy at 19-20dpo, my hcg was again high (4300).  This time, I wont worry as much.  But I know how you feel.  Hang in there!!!!!

[shan0225]

when I was 8 weeks pregant they found cystic hygroma on my baby. The fold was 3.6 I had to go back every 2 weeks and it kept getting worse. My baby also had hydrops in his belly.  When I was 25 weeks I went back for a check up with my specialist and all of the hygroma was gone along with the hydrops. It was a miracle. I had lost hope that it would get better. At 15 weeks I also had an amnio and it came back that everything was normal also. Keep you faith things do get better. I am carrying a healthy baby boy and I am 22 weeks now.

[acleland]

Thanks for your response. The genetic counselor we met with painted a very grim picture, telling us that nearly 100% of the time a child has a cystic hygroma + chromosome abnormality, the pregnancy will result in miscarriage. If thre is no abnormality, it will still result in miscarriage 50% of the time. She also indicated that hydrops were a sure sign of miscarriage, so it's nice to hear about your experience. We get the FISH results tomorrow or Friday and the full results in two weeks. I know it's not a good thing, but I am slowly losing hope.

[shan0225]

Have you found anything else out about the baby? Yesterday my underwear were soaked and I had to rush to the doc, thank god not amniotic fluid. I was very relieved. It was a scary day. They didn't tell me what it was he just said that it tested negative to the fluid. I am 24 weeks now and baby's heartbeat is very strong

[acleland]

We actually are doing very well. Our CVS and echocardiogram both came back completely normal, and at a 16 week ultrasound we found that the baby's cystic hygroma had resolved itself. I'm at 20 weeks and everything is great.

Glad to hear it was not amniotic fluid - scary. Is everything OK?

[lisag733]

Hi, I had an increased nuchal fold at my 12 week scan and was told there was a septate cystic hygroma and i had a one in ten chance that my baby would have downes or turner syndrome.  I had amnio and fetal heart scans and it suddenly resolved by 20 weeks!  I now have a 2 year old healthy gorgeous boy.  BUt, it did stay in my head for a long time, even after the birth I kept looking for things wrong with him, but there wasnt any.    

good luck

[happy74]

i am 28 yrs old with my first and so nervous!!

i am 12 wks 3 days and just had at the nuchal fold test done and they said the fluid behind the babys neck was 7mm (which is more than a lot) 3mm or less is considered normal. so we go tomorrow to get the CVS test done and i am a nervous wreck! what should i expect from tom. test and what are the chances that this could all be nothing and my baby could be perfectly healthy? the u/s showed a strong heartbeat at 159 bpm and all four limbs and a cute little nose, could this also be an indicator that everything is okay with my little one?

[Austin815]

happy74, I don't really know what to say to expect from the cvs test, exept that they can be invasive and can cause a misscarriage, but i believe it is a small chance, but i am sure your doctor told you that when he told you about the test. we opted not to have the test done, because we knew that whatever was meant to be with the test, it would not change how we felt about continuing the pregnancy, because we wanted nature to run it's course. The test will just give you answers to what may be wrong with the baby. Just don't be nervous!! easier said than done though i know.  We lost our little one to cystic hygroma with fetal hydrops, but we didn't do the test, i guess because we were scared that it would hurt the baby, and in our situation the specialast told us to wait a couple of weeks to see how the baby developed and then to see if to do the test.  Hopefully since your baby just has the hygroma, that no other genetical defects are wrong, because there is LOTS more hope if there are no underlining causes :). and that is a strong heartbeat!! i wil definatly pray that everything is okay with your little one... just try to stay positve, and a good website that I visited was benotafaid.com, there are lots of stories on there with people who are going through the same thing!!