Pregnancy outcome of 30 fetuses with cystic hygroma diagnosed during the first 15 weeks of gestation.

The goal of the study was to assess the prognostic value of ultrasound finding of fetal cystic hygromas. Thirty cases of septated cystic hygromas were diagnosed at 10-15 weeks gestation by transabdominal ultrasound and followed through pregnancy. The rate of abnormal karyotype was found to be 61% and the global rate of unfavorable outcome, independently of karyotype result, as high as 96%. These data suggest that cautious genetic counselling should be offered when such cystic hygromas are noticed during the first 15 weeks of gestation, even with a normal karyotype.