In utero evaluation and the long-term prognosis of living infants with cystic hygroma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to evaluate the natural course and the long-term prognosis of cystic hygroma following live birth.


METHODS
Of 39 cases, 12 were excluded because of either artificial termination or intrauterine treatment. 27 cases were retrospectively classified into 2 groups based on the outcome, and the clinical profiles were compared. The long-term prognosis was analyzed for live births.


RESULTS
5 (18.5%) and 22 (81.5%) cases resulted in live birth and fetal demise, respectively. Both the frequency of hydrops fetalis and the maximum size of the cyst were more significantly associated with a poor prognosis (p < 0.01). Of 5 live births, 3 cases with chromosomal or structural abnormalities were handicapped.


CONCLUSIONS
Hydrops fetalis and cyst size are poor prognostic factors, and fetal chromosome and structural malformations should be taken into account when predicting the long-term prognosis.
Fujita
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Satoh
S
S
Nakayama
H
H
Taguchi
T
T
Suita
S
S
Nakano
H
H
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000150:complications; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal