Prenatal Diagnosis of a Fetal Chest Wall Cystic Lymphangioma Using Ultrasonography and MRI: A Case Report with Literature Review

A case of fetal chest wall cystic lymphangioma diagnosed prenatally at 28 weeks’ gestation is reported. Ultrasound examination showed a multilocular, large cystic mass (10 × 22 × 29 mm) on the left side of the fetus in the area of the lower chest and upper abdomen, without color flow imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate the extent and the tissue characteristics of the lesion. Two months after birth the lymphangioma was surgically removed, following an infection and a rapid increase in size. The case is discussed, and a short review of the literature is reported.

[1]  D. Lev,et al.  Familial occurrence of isolated nonseptated nuchal cystic hygromata in midtrimester of pregnancy , 2004, Prenatal diagnosis.

[2]  Chih-ping Chen Prenatal imaging of the fetal anterior chest wall cystic hygroma by magnetic resonance imaging , 2003, Prenatal diagnosis.

[3]  A. Lee,et al.  Diagnosis of ectopia cordis with three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in first‐trimester pregnancy , 2002, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[4]  C-C Lee,et al.  Prenatal diagnosis of abdominal lymphangioma , 2002, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[5]  S. Kim,et al.  Fetal axillary cystic hygroma detected by prenatal ultrasonography: a case report. , 2002, Journal of Korean medical science.

[6]  Y. Tsuchida,et al.  Prenatally diagnosed cystic lymphangioma in infants. , 1998, Journal of pediatric surgery.

[7]  A. Haas Recalcitrant Breast Lymphangioma Circumscription Treated by UltraPulse Carbon Dioxide Laser , 1998, Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.].

[8]  D. Donnai Human Malformations and Related Anomalies , 1994 .

[9]  N. Anderson,et al.  Prognosis in Fetal Cystic Hygroma , 1992, The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology.

[10]  M. Gauderer,et al.  Pediatric abdominal lymphangiomas: a plea for early recognition. , 1991, Journal of pediatric surgery.

[11]  N. Browse,et al.  Surgical management of ‘lymphangioma circumscriptum’ , 1986, The British journal of surgery.

[12]  D. A. Ritter,et al.  Fetal cystic hygroma and Turner's syndrome. , 1986, American journal of diseases of children.

[13]  C. Marchese,et al.  Cystic hygroma: Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling , 1985, Prenatal diagnosis.

[14]  R. Berkowitz,et al.  Fetal cystic hygroma. Cause and natural history. , 1983, The New England journal of medicine.

[15]  Williams Hb Hemangiomas and lymphangiomas. , 1981 .

[16]  H. B. Williams Hemangiomas and lymphangiomas. , 1981, Advances in surgery.

[17]  M. Shaub,et al.  Fetal cystic lymphangioma (cystic hygroma): prepartum ultrasonic findings. , 1976, Radiology.

[18]  I. Whimster The pathology of lymphangioma circumscriptum , 1974, The British journal of dermatology.

[19]  R. Peachey,et al.  LYMPHANGIOMA OF SKIN , 1970, The British journal of dermatology.

[20]  C. P. Wilson Lymphangioma Circumscriptum , 1932, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine.