Choroid plexus cysts?

meemer843

Just had my A/S and all looked good with the exception of what the dr said look to be two small (around 2mm each) choroid plexus cysts. Apparently a very small percentage of pregnancies show the cysts in 2nd or 3rd tri ultrasounds and of those, a very small percentage - think it was less than 5% - are related to a higher risk of trisomy 18. My options are either to go in for another ultrasound around 30 weeks to see if the cysts are still there, or to get a materniT21 blood test which would help figure out the chance of trisomy 18 with or without the cysts.

Has anyone else had experience with this kind of cyst? My dr said she isn't concerned and thinks everything will be fine, but I don't think I can deal with the anxiety of not knowing for another 20 weeks so I'll probably get one test or another done. 

BootsOrHearts

There's not a lot of downside to getting the Mat21 test done, it might help put your mind at ease. I hope it's nothing.

northport6

Do you really want to think about this for 10 more weeks? When in doubt, get the test.

gcama85

Hey there - my baby also had these at my a/s a couple weeks ago. My doctor was very reassuring that it was nothing, especially because my nuchal translucency scan and subsequent bloodwork showed a risk of 1/10,000. That, combined with the fact that there were no other soft markers, reassured me a lot. There is actually evidence that these cysts are a normal part of fetal brain development and that many babies have them - they were just gone by the time they were imaged. In some countries they don't mention them to women if there aren't any other markers. I ended up getting a level II ultrasound at the perinatologist just to double check that everything else was fine and he told that without out a doubt, I should not worry. If you did get the n/t scan in your first trimester and the blood screen early in your second, I would be okay with waiting until the next ultrasound. The other thing to keep in mind is that the cysts themselves post no risk to your baby, whether or not they stay or go away. The associated risk is with their presence at any point (not if they disappear). Feel free to PM me!

gcama85

Hey there - I just wrote a giant response to this and it apparently didn't post Anywho, my baby also had two small cysts and my doctor was very reassuring that it was nothing. I was confident in her assessment given my results during the n/t scan and the subsequent second trimester bloodwork which showed a risk of 1/10,000 for trisomy 18. I also didn't have any other soft markers. Did you have the genetic screening done? If so, I would feel okay about waiting until the 30 week ultrasound. Important things to know are that these cysts are increasingly normal - advances in imaging are finding them more and more. Some articles I read said they were actually a normal occurrence in fetal brain development. Additionally, the risk association here is with whether or not they were there ever, not if they go away. The cysts themselves do not pose any harm to your baby (even if they're still there at 30 weeks). Feel free to message me if you want to chat more!

gcama85

My baby also had these cysts and my doctor was also very reassuring that everything was okay. Since my n/t scan and subsequent blood work were both very good (1/10,000) and because I had no other soft markers, I felt great not doing any further testing. I did see a perinatologist for a level II ultrasound to take a more detailed look and he also reassured me that I should absolutely not worry. You should know that the cyst itself does not pose any risks to your baby. The associated risk with trisomy 18 has to do with whether or not the cyst was ever seen, not if it goes away. With advances in imagine, women are seeing these much more. The tech said she sees them in every 3rd or 4th ultrasound, and some research shows them to a be a normal part of fetal brain development. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat more!

lp0

Where are the cysts located? I have a cyst on the placenta right near where the cord inserts. I have to have monthly ultrasounds until 30 weeks and then once a week after that.

chemily8

I had the mat21 test before my as, all was good with results, and they found these same cysts as well. They scheduled me for a level 2 ultrasound 2 weeks from my as to further check for anything related to t18. I would ask for a sooner ultrasound to look for any other markers, just for peace of mind. My neighbor is due 4 days after me, just went for her as yesterday and they found the same thing! That made me feel a little better. From what I have read it may just be a normal part of development. With newer ultrasound equipment being used they are just able to see more. I understand how stressful it can be, good luck with everything and I would request a level 2 ultrasound to look for any other possible markers.

mightymousy

BootsOrHearts said:

There's not a lot of downside to getting the Mat21 test done, it might help put your mind at ease. I hope it's nothing.

Ditto to this. It's a none invasive blood test and you'll have answers much sooner, I would definitely do it.

CaityA83

I am going through this right now. We found 2 at my anatomy scan as well. That was a couple weeks ago. I have a follow up ultrasound tomorrow that is a level 2 ultrasound to check everything out and get more details. My dr said she isn't worried and that her son had it also and everything was fine. It's just procedure to double check everything. I do know that the cysts themselves are not a problem but just that they are sometimes there at the same time of other problems. I hope that makes sense. I hope everything turns out great with yours!!

lp0

I replied earlier today but I don't see it. Where are the cysts located? I have a 1 cm cyst on the placenta right near the cord insertion. I have to have an ultrasound once a month until 30 weeks then one a week after that.

MrsC731

Yes they saw the same thing at my anatomy scan. There is a slight chance they are related to Down's syndrome and other birth defects. My doctor wanted me to do the harmony test but we had already done the NT scan which gave us a ratio of 1:10000. Since the chance is so slight and we wouldn't do anything at this point we decided not to have the test done. We do have another ultrasound scheduled at 26 weeks and then again at 30 weeks for this and another unrelated issue. Is this your only marker? I would do the blood test if you really need the piece of mind.

chemily8

I had the Mat 21 and everything looked good. At my 20 week ultrasound they found the same thing. My neighbor who is also 20 weeks had her as yesterday and they also found a choroid plexus cyst! From what I am reading yes it can be a soft marker for t18 but it also can just be a normal part of development. I am being sent for a level 2 ultrasound next week to look for any other markers, I think this will really put my mind at ease a little. I would request a sooner ultrasound and a level 2 for peace of mind. Just my opinion. I even had to call around a couple of offices to get an appointment so early. Good luck and try not to stress.

FutureMrsCaesar

I agree with the PP that if you need to put your mind at ease the Mat21 test isn't a bad idea.

However, I've been on these boards with all 3 of my pregnancies (dork, I know) and I've seen so many posts about these type of cysts and I don't recall it ever amounting to anything.  From what I've seen on here, they are VERY common and really don't mean much in most cases.  In fact, a lot of people have been saying lately that they aren't really even considered soft markers anymore.  I guess back when u/s technology wasn't as good they would only pickup select ones and there was a slight correlation between that and birth defects.  However with better technology they are able to see how much more common they are and don't necessarily correlate to anything.  GL!

snowflake350

At our 20 scan we found out our baby has a choroid plexus cyst. My doctor said it's isolated, meaning no other markers were found. I also had the quad test done and results came back normal. My doctor said we could get an amino done but the risk of miscarriage from that is 1 in 300, which why risk it? My doctor said he wasn't worried about it, but told me to go ahead and research it, which of course I did as soon as I got home. From what I read, only about 25 percent of trisomy 18 babies show a
choroid plexus cysts and they always show some other marker. I also read that even in the trisomy 18 babies the cyst will go away later in pregnancy so a later u/s doesn't really do any good. I know another option to help ease your mind is to get a level 2 u/s where they look specifically in detail for any trisomy 18 markers. Good luck. Researching it eased my mind a lot.

Ark2013

BootsOrHearts said:

There's not a lot of downside to getting the Mat21 test done, it might help put your mind at ease. I hope it's nothing.

This. Hopefully it's nothing.

snowflake350

Bumping this since somebody else was just asking about this.

meemer843

A belated thanks to everyone who posted! I think I'm going to get the mat21 test just for my own peace of mind. 

sweet*18

Our DS should this at our 18wk scan. There weren't any other markers and we went back in at 22wks and they were gone. He is a healthy and energetic 2yr old now.

Our doctor said they are common but are usually gone before women get their scans. It was scary and a nerve wrecking couple of weeks. We didn't do any other testing just the follow up scan. If the test helps ease your mind, do it. Also do not google, my DH did and it made those weeks longer. I'm sorry you're going through this.