brain cyst

Kath525

So we had our ultrasound today. Everything looked good except that there was a cyst in the baby's brain. Doctor said it's not life threatening but could be an indicator of down syndrome. We have to have a more high tech ultrasound next week and meet with a high risk specialist. Any experiences with this? I don't like the not knowing. I kinda just wish I knew one way or the other. I am very grateful that it's not life threatening however.

ecwk

I'm so sorry, I've no advice but I just wanted to say you're in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping everything turns out well for you. X

katy0990

You and your baby are in my thoughts and prayers.

jmathi0149

One of my good friends just went through this. They saw two cysts on her baby girl's brain at her 20 week ultrasound. She had a follow up at 25 weeks and both cysts were completely gone! They doctor said everything looks great now! T&Ps for your little one and your family!

JLaVO888

Sending T&P to you. Let us know how what dr. Has to say at the follow-up.

runningwild

Lurking from April 16 bmb. Just wanted to say I went through this with my first baby. At my 20 week scan they found 3 cysts (called them cpc's) on her brain. I also had low amniotic fluid, which they told me both were markers for downs syndrome. I was referred to a high risk dr. By the time I was around 32 weeks, 2 cysts were completely gone and the third was continuing to shrink. She was born totally healthy.

This was one of the most stressful times of my life. So I understand how you feel. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer from my experience. Prayers for you!

alanna3622

Repost from second tri:

Count me in for multiple cysts on my son's brain. Freaked out at first, but then talked to a medical friend and feel much better.

The most recent medical knowledge is that brains develop in folds; some folds are not present yet at the time of many second tri ultrasounds. Therefore the physical gap reserved for not-yet-developed brain folds is filled with cerebral spinal fluid. Calling it a cyst on the brain is such a horrible way of describing what is essentially a normal stage of brain development. Yes, the loose correlation is there, but when discovered on its own without the other soft markers (echogenic bowel, low set ears, underdeveloped jaw, single artery umbilical cord, enlarged ventricles, clenched fists, etc) it is not of any interest whatsoever.

The reason that choroid plexus cysts are found so regularly now is a product of the increased use of advanced imaging. When I searched "choroid plexus cyst" on The Bump, there was a link to a very helpful article penned by a US doctor about his frustration with imaging that reveals choroid plexus cysts because they aren't of any use to him (in the absence of the other markers and especially in mothers under the age of 35), and yet he is forced to mention them to a mother and thereby cause needless worry. I am sorry I don't have the link handy now as I would love to share. It was extremely reassuring.

Kath525

Thanks everyone. We are praying for and anticipating good news. But there's still that little part of me that says what if. I know it's so unlikely but sometimes logic loses to emotion (especially while pregnant!). I will update when we get more info. Thanks for your thought and prayers!

Parker16772

No advice but sending good thoughts your way! 

maelic

My daughter had a Choroid Plexus Cyst show up on her anatomy scan and the doctor said it could be a soft marker for trisomies. She had no other markers, so he wasn't worried and told me I shouldn't be either. He said cysts are a "variation of normal" and not at all harmful in and of themselves. 

They never even checked back to see if the cysts had resolved, they are apparently very common (and unknown) in the adult population too. The example my OB used was that if she were to scan all the women in the waiting room, a good number of them would show cysts in their brains and zero issues. They are required to disclose the CPCs in the US (which my doctor found frustrating because they scare parents unnecessarily), but in Europe it's a finding that absent other markers is not even reported to the parents after the anatomy scan. 

I did a maternal-fetal blood test to rule out trisomies, but that's because I am an anxious person and I was afraid I'd hyperfocus on that for the rest of the pregnancy. The results were normal and my daughter was born perfectly healthy. 

Good luck, I'm sure it'll be perfectly fine!

alanna3622

@maelic I came across your daughter's experience elsewhere on the board I think and I took a lot of comfort/insight from that phrase "variation of normal".

shaylee93

Hey my son was born at 28weeks and during a scan to check for brain bleeds they found he has 3 cysts in his brain and said he was a extremely high risk for cerebral palsy. He did physical and occupational therapy for over a year. He's now 17months and NO signs of CP at all he's never had any issues and meets all his milestones way before most full term babies would have. Babies are so tough, don't stress! Whatever happens will happen and your baby will surprise you

kotastar14

They recently found an 8mm choroid plexus cyst during our 20 week anatomy scan on my daughter. Speaking with my doctor he stated that they're very common and unless there are other abnormalities noted there is no need for concern as studies indicate they're a part of normal fetal growth. Typically in the past people have believed that CPC is a soft marker for trisomy 18, but that has been of great debate in recent years as more and more studies ate showing little to no correlation between the two.

pamalerjean

My first had this too and it went away by the following ultrasound. I was initially really worried but after some research, realized it's very common and often nothing. dD1 is a healthy 4 year old. Hoping for the same results for you. Try not to worry

Kath525

Just to update we had our type two ultrasound yesterday. Cyst is gone and there are no other signs of chromosomal deformities.

lindscnn1

Yay!! Great news <:-P

AMurph22

Awesome news!

kfarr26

Whoops! Commented before seeing the update. That's fantastic!

kenjibear

Our baby also has a cpc. Because all my other screens for genetic abnormalities were normal, it is not a big concern. They gave me a funny pamphlet that compared it to redheads having skin cancer. Yes, the risk is slightly increased, but my Dr gave me a number of something like a 1 in 10000 chance that this alone could indicate trisomy 18. Staying positive and trying not to think/worry about it!

FutureMrsCaesar

Great news, thanks for updating!!