THE SONOGRAPHIC FINDING OF PERSISTENT UMBILICAL-CORD CYSTIC MASSES ISASSOCIATED WITH LETHAL ANEUPLOIDY AND OR CONGENITAL-ANOMALIES/

Advancements in sonographic technology have led to improved prenatal d etection of fetal anomalies. Umbilical cord cystic masses are being de tected prenatally and several case reports have appeared in the litera ture. We report three new cases in which umbilical cord cystic masses were detected prenatally; two cases in the later half of pregnancy and one case in the first trimester. The literature was reviewed and summ aries of the 23 reported cases of persistent second- and third-trimest er umbilical cord cystic masses and their implications are discussed. There is a high association (18 of 23 cases) with lethal chromosomal a nomalies and/or congenital malformations suggesting that the finding o f an isolated umbilical cord cystic mass should lead to further detail ed sonographic evaluation.