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Prenatal diagnosis of nuchal cystic hygroma

A. M. MacLeod, MB, ChB, MRCP, FRCR^* and J. M. McHugo, MB, BS, MRCP, FRCR

Department of Radiology, Birmingham Maternity Hospital, QEMC, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK

Correspondence: Author for correspondence.

Twenty-seven cases of nuchal cystic hygroma were diagnosed prenatally over a 5-year period at the Birmingham Maternity Hospital. Karyotypes were obtained in 20 cases, of which 14 (70%) were abnormal. Two-thirds of these represented various trisomy syndromes in contrast to other series where cases of Turner's syndrome have predominated. Twenty pregnancies were terminated. There was one intra-uterine death and two neonatal deaths. Hydrops was present in 15 cases, none of which survived to term. Associated structural abnormalities, mainly skeletal, renal and cardiac, were present in 18 cases. There were four long-term survivors with good quality of life, including both normal and abnormal karyotypes. In utero regression of the hygromawas documented in five cases, total in three and subtotal in two cases born with residual neck webbing.

Key Words: Antenatal ultrasound • Cystic hygroma • Trisomies • Turner's syndrome

^* Present address: Department of Radiology, Walsgrave Hospital, Clifford Bridge Road, Walsgrave, Coventry CV² 2DX, UK.

Received for publication December 1, 1990. Revision received March 1, 1991.