EARLY PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF AXILLARY CYSTIC HYGROMA

Fetal axillary cystic hygroma has been reported rarely and only as a s onographic finding late in gestation. A retrospective study of 19,200 early second trimester screening ultrasonograms for anomalies revealed five cases of axillary cystic hygroma. All of the axillary hygromas w ere small, transient, nonloculated cysts. Three cysts were associated with chromosomal abnormalities: trisomy 21 in two cases and a single c ase of trisomy 18 in which structural abnormalities also were detected . Early fetal axillary cystic hygroma appears to be different from pos tnatal axillary cysts on the basis of differences in prevalence, struc ture, and appearance. It also may be a normal variant in the developme nt of the fetal lymphatic system.