Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 18, Issue 2 95-99, Copyright © 1999 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Clinical significance of first trimester umbilical cord cysts
W. Sepulveda, S. Leible, A. Ulloa, M. Ivankovic and C. Schnapp
Fetal Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
A cystic mass of the umbilical cord was identified by transvaginal
sonography 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 length of 20.5 mm (range, 15 to 25 mm). The cyst was solitary in
all cases, the 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 cases, 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 ranges for gestational age in all cases. Information on
detailed second trimester scans was available in nine cases, demonstrating
complete resolution of the cyst and normal fetal anatomic survey in each
case. These nine pregnancies were followed to delivery, and normal healthy
infants were delivered at term in all cases. This series suggests that the
incidental detection of umbilical cord cysts in early pregnancy is not
associated with an adverse pregnancy outcome.
