Cysts Found on Babies Umbilical Cord

V., first, I am an R.N. so I will tell you as much as I can. These umbilical cord cysts are seen in about 3% of the pregnant population during the first trimester (7 to 13 weeks) and usually resolve on their own.

When they are seen in the second trimester, it warrants further testing by a perinatal specialist just to be on the safe side. While the cysts can mean absolutely nothing, they can also indicate chromosomal anomalies. The perinatologist will probably order a more detailed sonogram and might want to do fetal karyotyping (taking umbilical cord blood samples).

It is normal to be worried about the unknown and especially when carrying a precious little bundle. Since your doctor said not to worry, he/she must think it is nothing. However, further investigation is medically prudent. Congrats on the baby girl!

hi!!! V. im 30 wks and the found a cyst on my babies umbilical cord as well...but my doctor told me 99% the baby is fine..and if i wanted 2 get the amnio test...i dont know what 2 think..im sooo scared...

the following is from http://www.thefetus.net/page.php?id=1149 and there is a video clip on the site. hope this helps.
sounds like nothing to fret about just now. there are all sorts of scary information available but you sound like you would rather know than remain in the dark. just take all the information as only info. you doctor will be more specific about you .. so ask questions. and to calm some possible fears, i had a 2 vessel cord and my angel is perfect and a friend just delivered a veey healthy baby girl with a short cord. keep in mind that the numbers in studies are skewed as not all people have medical care and get ultrasounds. also, not all sonographers can see the cord anomalies both due to thier training and the equipment they are using. and most importantly.. u/s wasn't available approx 25 years ago.

1.5. Cysts and masses of the cord

Cysts and pseudocysts
Umbilical cord cysts develop from the remnants of the allantois or the omphalo-mesenteric duct. Usually microscopic and with no clinical relevance, they can grow up to several centimeters. They are located mostly on the fetal side and may be detected as early as the first trimester139,140,141.

Pseudocysts are localized edema of Wharton"s jelly, or liquefaction of hematomas or thrombus within the cord, and have the same ultrasound appearance than cysts.

Compared with cysts, pseudocysts have no internal epithelial lining (microscopically). Prenatal ultrasound differential diagnosis is impossible, but also not important since both have been associated with fetal anomalies142. These masses are found in approximately 3% of pregnancies between 7-13 weeks 140. Chromosomal anomalies are found in more than 20% of fetuses with this anomaly, specifically trisomies 18142,143,144 and 13145. Furthermore, it appears to be that cysts and pseudocysts are associated to other structural anomalies in non-chromosomally aberrant fetuses. The natural history of these masses is to resolve by the end of the first trimester. Those that persist beyond 12 weeks and on to the second and third trimester, and the ones near the placental or fetal insertion, are more likely to associate with chromosomal anomalies 144. So, when a cord cyst is encountered, a detailed sonographic survey of the fetus is advisable. Fetal karyotyping is indicated when other anomalies are found or when the cyst persists in to second trimester. If no other anomaly is found, the prognosis is excellent.

ALSO SOME OTHER LINKS I FOUND TO READ re: cord cysts
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1535885
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12666213
http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/95
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_4546.asp
http://forums.obgyn.net/pregnancy-birth/P-B.0111/1341.html
http://www.emedicine.com/med/byname/Umbilical-Cord-Compli...
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3276.htm

you can find more by going to yahoo or google and typing in the seach box exactly the following: "umbilical cord" AND "cyst"

In my last pregnancy with twins, I had some issues which made my OB send me to a specialist. Everything was fine, and I got to get lots of ultrasound pics of the babies.

This is what I found, my textbook said similar things. They will probably do a 3D OR 4d ultrasound to check for birth defects. I had this done, just like a regular ultrasound, but you can see more detail. They might also do an Amniocentesis.

Cord cysts can be defined as true or false cysts, and they can occur at any location along the cord. They are irregular in shape and are located between the vessels.

Cysts are found in 0.4% of pregnancies.34

True cysts are small remnants of the allantois (ie, allantoid cysts) or the umbilical vesicle. Cysts have an epithelial lining, occur at the fetal end of the cord, and usually resolve during the first trimester. True cysts can be associated with other complications and conditions, which will be assessed during the pregnancy.

False cysts can be as large as 6 cm and represent liquefaction of Wharton jelly. They do not have an epithelial lining and are most commonly found at the fetal end of the cord. Pseudocysts are associated with chromosomal anomalies, or birth defects which can be diagnosed prenatally in most cases, Of cord cysts of any type, 20% are associated with structural or chromosomal anomalies.

During fetal anatomy scans, the abdominal wall near the cord insertion is the most likely location to detect a cyst. Cysts can be visualized most easily with color Doppler studies during the first trimester, when the umbilical vessels are small.

Persistent cysts may be observed with fetal karyotyping and level 2 second trimester ultrasonography. In patients with large cysts, cesarean delivery undertaken as soon as fetal lung maturity is achieved may help to avoid fetal damage from cyst rupture during labor.

Depends on the type of cysts you have as to what they will do or what problems they could cause.

I have no experience with that particular issue. However, it doesn't seem that urgent since they are waiting until 2-21 for you to see the specialist. If it was really bad surely they would have you in there immediately. Also, if they said not to worry, I wouldn't borrow trouble yet.

Keep us posted.

My sister just went through a horrible scare of possible spina bifida, downs syndrome and had to have an amniocentesis. They did do a ultrasound and it showed something on the neck and told her it was a girl.

Long story short, the baby is fine, results came back fine and it is not a girl but a boy. Sometimes those things they see really are nothing.

I felt a strong NEED to respond to you. When my preagnancy hit the 17 week mark ( fetus was 15 weeks) I went in for an unltrasound cause I was cramping and the doctors office wanted to rule out a tubal. A few hours later, the doctor can to let me know that I would be fine cause I just had the flu. He regretfully had to let me know that something was indeed wrong with my baby. See, the babies brain was 8 cm and the baby had a cyst that took over almost 3 cm of her brain 9the whole left side of her brain) My OB doctor recommanded an abortion. I couldn't do that. Short story, During the whole course of my pregnacy my baby still had a cyst until a week before she was born. Katie was born 8LBS 4oz and is a blessing to my life. the doctor said it was a fluid filled cyst and nothing more. Did you know that when we first get pregnant that we do not have a placenta? We have several cyst that turn into yolk sacks that feed the baby til the placenta grows. When you have an unltrasond the doctors like to see at least 5 cyst in your utarus. Then as the pregnancy gets into the 2 trimester the body absorbs the cyst. But sometimes our bodies are slow to do that. Do not stress at this time, I did and it does no good.

I didnt have a cyst on the umbilical cord but I had two tumor (not cancerous) found on my uterus and I went full term with my baby. She saved my life because I did not know that the tumors were there. when we did the ultrasound the dr thought it was a cyst on my overy and when my baby girl was born they found it was the tumors. the dr stated that the one tumor was the size of a softball and one was the size of a cantelope. my baby girl was breached because she couldnt move it was like i was carrying twins or triples. she was healthy. she weighed 6lbs 15oz and 19 inches long. she is 2 1/2 months old now and weighs 10lbs 11ozs and 22 1/4 inches long. I wouldnt worry about anything if the dr is telling you not to worry.

I don't know about cysts on umbilical cords, but I wanted to let you know that I saw Dr. Stanley when they thought my son's neural tube was supiciously too small. Dr. Stanley is very gentle and kind. He was so quick to reassure us and his machines produce high-end ultrasounds. Don't worry too much (I know easier said than done!).