Clinical significance of first trimester umbilical cord cysts

A cystic mass of the umbilical cord was identified by transvaginal sonograp hy in 10 first trimester pregnancies at a mean gestational age of 8 weeks 4 days (range, 8 weeks 1 day to 9 weeks 3 days) and at a mean crown-rump len gth of 20.5 mm (range, 15 to 25 mm). The cyst was solitary in all cases, th e mean diameter was 4.6 mm (range, 3 to 6 mm), and the location was closer to the fetal insertion in two cases, in the middle of the cord in seven cas es, and closer to the placental insertion in one case. Gestational sac and yolk sac diameters as well as the fetal heart rate were within normal range s for gestational age in all cases. Information on detailed second trimeste r scans was available in nine cases, demonstrating complete resolution of t he cyst and normal fetal anatomic survey in each case. These nine pregnanci es were followed to delivery, and normal healthy infants were delivered at term in all cases. This series suggests that the incidental detection of um bilical cord cysts in early pregnancy is not associated with an adverse pre gnancy outcome.