Cystic Hygroma
When I was 11 weeks pregnant Ryan was diagnosed with a severe Cystic Hygroma. This is basically a block in the lymphatic system development and creates a fluid filled mass, usually at the back of the neck. 2mm is considered high normal, 3mm is considered high and Ryan's was 7.2mm. Its considered dangerous to the baby as the fluid may not stay localised at the back of the neck and therefore invade the vital organs causing fetal hydrops which is basically when the baby drowns. It is also a strong marker for chromosome and gene abnormalities and heart defects and its thought that the larger the CH the more severe the problem.
Luckily Ryan's CH amazingly resolved at about 20 weeks. While the danger of hydrops at that point had significantly decreased the "reason" for the CH to be there in the first place was still a concern. Many doctors put the statistics of the baby surviving the pregnancy at about 18% but many more think the numbers are closer to 10%. There is very little research done on how these babies with normal chromosomes turn out after the neonatal period.
See below for more info in CH's and my post on my pregnancy for more info on Ryan's specific journey with this very rare but frightening occurrence.
http://www.askanob.com/abnormalfetalultrasound/cystichygroma.html
Luckily Ryan's CH amazingly resolved at about 20 weeks. While the danger of hydrops at that point had significantly decreased the "reason" for the CH to be there in the first place was still a concern. Many doctors put the statistics of the baby surviving the pregnancy at about 18% but many more think the numbers are closer to 10%. There is very little research done on how these babies with normal chromosomes turn out after the neonatal period.
See below for more info in CH's and my post on my pregnancy for more info on Ryan's specific journey with this very rare but frightening occurrence.
http://www.askanob.com/abnormalfetalultrasound/cystichygroma.html
Comments