A cystic hygroma is a growth that often occurs in the head and neck area. It is a birth defect.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
A cystic hygroma occurs as the baby grows in the womb. It forms from pieces of material that carry fluid and white blood cells. This material is called embryonic lymphatic tissue.
After birth, a cystic hygroma usually looks like a soft bulge under the skin. The cyst may not be found at birth. It typically grows as the child grows. Sometimes it is not noticed until the child is older.
Symptoms
A common symptom is a neck growth. It may be found at birth, or discovered later in an infant after an upper respiratory tract infection.
Signs and tests
Sometimes, a cystic hygroma is seen when the baby is still in the womb using a pregnancy ultrasound. This can mean that the baby has a chromosomal problem or other birth defects.
The following tests may be done:
Chest x-ray
Ultrasound
CT scan
If the cystic hygroma is detected during a pregnancy ultrasound, other ultrasound tests or amniocentesis may be recommended.
Treatment
Treatment involves removing all of the abnormal tissue. However, cystic hygromas can often spread to other parts of the neck, making it impossible to remove all of the tissue.
Other treatments have been tried with only limited success. These include:
Chemotherapy medications
Injection of sclerosing medications
Radiation therapy
Steroids
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook is good if surgery can totally remove the abnormal tissue. In cases where complete removal is not possible, the cystic hygroma commonly returns.
The outcome may also depend on what other chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects, if any, are present.
Complications
Complications may include:
Bleeding
Damage to structures in the neck caused by surgery
Infection
Return of the cystic hygroma
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
A cystic hygroma occurs as the baby grows in the womb. It forms from pieces of material that carry fluid and white blood cells. This material is called embryonic lymphatic tissue.
After birth, a cystic hygroma usually looks like a soft bulge under the skin. The cyst may not be found at birth. It typically grows as the child grows. Sometimes it is not noticed until the child is older.
Symptoms
A common symptom is a neck growth. It may be found at birth, or discovered later in an infant after an upper respiratory tract infection.
Signs and tests
Sometimes, a cystic hygroma is seen when the baby is still in the womb using a pregnancy ultrasound. This can mean that the baby has a chromosomal problem or other birth defects.
The following tests may be done:
Chest x-ray
Ultrasound
CT scan
If the cystic hygroma is detected during a pregnancy ultrasound, other ultrasound tests or amniocentesis may be recommended.
Treatment
Treatment involves removing all of the abnormal tissue. However, cystic hygromas can often spread to other parts of the neck, making it impossible to remove all of the tissue.
Other treatments have been tried with only limited success. These include:
Chemotherapy medications
Injection of sclerosing medications
Radiation therapy
Steroids
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook is good if surgery can totally remove the abnormal tissue. In cases where complete removal is not possible, the cystic hygroma commonly returns.
The outcome may also depend on what other chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects, if any, are present.
Complications
Complications may include:
Bleeding
Damage to structures in the neck caused by surgery
Infection
Return of the cystic hygroma
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