title: First-trimester diagnosis of fetal hepatic cyst.
abstract: Fetal intra-abdominal cysts seen on antenatal sonography pose a diagnostic problem as they may have many etiological origins. We present a case of a hepatic cyst measuring 11 x 7 x 7 mm that was diagnosed at 13 weeks' gestation by transvaginal sonography. The cyst increased in proportion with the growth of the fetus. Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of the cyst at 22 weeks' gestation helped to clearly identify the formerly displaced gall bladder and demonstrated the intrahepatic location of the cyst. The aspirated fluid was identified as bile. After aspiration the fluid reaccumulated rapidly. Shortly prior to delivery the cyst measured 75 x 44 x 46 mm. At 39 weeks of gestation a female infant was delivered by forceps (3610 g; Apgar 9/10/10 at 1, 5 and 10 min, respectively). Increasing cyst size and concomitant feeding problems prompted surgery on the 14th day postpartum. A large hepatic cyst was partially excised and marsupialized, confirming the prenatal diagnosis. The postoperative course was complicated by cholangitis, septicemia and recurrence of the cyst. Therefore Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy was performed in the second month of life. The postoperative period was uneventful and the child was doing well at the time of writing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. christophberg@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baschat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geipel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krapp
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Germer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smrcek
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sigge
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gembruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal