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Choroid Plexus Cysts (CPC?s) in the brain . . . (Long)

darleenmonroedarleenmonroe
in 2nd Trimester

So happy to be 23 weeks but now new worries have started. We had our 2nd tri anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks 5 days and everything looked great except they couldn?t check the with of the base of the back of the head, check the face and brains. He was soooo far head-down in my pelvis and wedged up against my bladder. I peed three times at the OB in about 45 min.! So they said not to worry as they have their list of things to check and babies are not always all that eager to help out.

 

So I went back yesterday (4 weeks later 22 weeks 6 days) for another try to check the head. They found Choroid Plexus Cysts (CPC?s) in the brain. For some reason 1-3% of all fetuses show CPC?s in the brain during weeks 16-24. They don?t know why but these CPC?s almost ALWAYS dissolve by 3rd trimester. Even if they don?t go away by 3rd tri these CPC?s have been found in adults and it doesn?t hurt anything.

 

So here?s the thing, this is one of a few markers they look for that can signal a chromosome problem (other markers: heart abnormality, kidney abnormality, deformed feet and or hands, mother age 35+ years old and the worst is obvious fetal disfigurement). It?s associated with Trisomy #18 which is a very serious chromosome problem where the baby has an extra copy of chromosome #18 and can not survive long term. 50% of all Trisomy #18 people had CPC?s. That?s the only tie. It doesn?t affect thinking or personality but it does control the production of spinal fluid in the brain and spine.

 

So I have one marker ? the CPC?s only. The doctor and tech told me to not worry since I only have one marker and it could go away on it?s own by 3rd tri and since I don?t have any other markers or high risk factors. BUT I CAN?T HELP BUT WORRY! I feel better that they have found these in adults that never knew they had them when doing brain scans for other reasons.

 

Help me ::sniffles:: . . .

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Re: Choroid Plexus Cysts (CPC?s) in the brain . . . (Long)

  • jkfranklinjkfranklin member
    They found this in my friend's baby at her 20 u/s and her DD is perfectly healthy.
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  • Freshmaker05Freshmaker05

    My DS had some present at our anatomy scan at 18w6d, but that was the only thing they could find.  He didn't have any other markers. Our OB has said they will try and find a reason to do another scan in my 3rd tri since most insurance companies won't cover another ultrasound since CPCs are so common. I am not concerned since everything I have read say they are really common, so just try and stay calm and see if your OB will think of a way to get you another u/s.  GL!

     

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  • rebecca_crossrebecca_cross
    You and your little one are in my prayers.  Your doctor is probably right and it is probably nothing to worry about, but I am a worse case scenario kind of person and would be freaking out as well.  Keep thinking positive thoughts!
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  • elana80elana80

    There are several of us dealing with this. My baby has two "areas of concern", with one being a slightly enlarged Choroid Plexus. The doctor didn't call it a cyst, but the genetic counselor did. I ended up having an amnio because of the two concerning areas (the other area is in her abdomen), and so far, everything has come back normal. It's very normal to worry. In fact, I don't believe many women can be pregnant and not worry about something. The odds are excellent that your baby is fine. Hugs to you.

    I know other threads have been posted about this, but I don't know how to track them down.

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  • hanson4hanson4

    I just went through this and I know how scary it is. But try to relax (I know, easier said than done). I think I read every single study there was to read about this in the past week, and the association between CPC and Trisomy 18 is very, very, VERY low if the CPC is the only "abnormality" that they find.  And the numbers on how few babies have them are very underreported, since so many babies have them and they disappear before the u/s (Mine were already "resolving" at my 20 week u/s - if I had had it a week later, they might never have seen them).

    Bottom line, I made myself sick worrying about this and when I went back yesterday they were gone. I haven't heard from my dr that everything is a-ok yet, but the tech said she sees these all the time and a lot of dr's don't even mention them to their patients b/c they aren't worth following. Please try to relax!  The stress is way worse for your baby than the CPC's!

    Just an absolute casserole of nonsense.
    CDH, born 10/26/09.... now I see a family, where there once was none.
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  • libertadwlibertadw

    My son has one, I am having a follow up u/s in third tri just to help calm DH's worries. Our probability, according to my blood work, for trisomy 18 is 1 in 100,000. They are very common. I wouldn't worry too much.

     

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  • hanson4hanson4

    PS - here is one of the studies that relieved me.. it found NO cases of trisomy 18 in mothers under 35 w/ isolated cysts:

    https://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14365169

    Also if you check out the "user forum" on choroidplexuscyst.org you will see how common these are and lots of happy endings :) 

     

    Just an absolute casserole of nonsense.
    CDH, born 10/26/09.... now I see a family, where there once was none.
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  • AngelMell05AngelMell05 member
    They found this exact thing in my baby at 19 weeks. I cried my eyes out when they told us but my doctor called me and told me everything would be fine. Not all downs cases even have these cysts. I think like 70 percent of downs have these cysts but other markers as well like abnormal hands, feet, heart, etc. My doctor, too, said since I my baby tested fine at the 12 week NT scan and at the 16 week blood work and since the baby has no other markers, we will be good to go! She even called the U/S place and yelled at them for scaring us so much. Its so hard not to worry. Trust me I know. But so many people have told me their babies have had them and they all turned out perfect. We go back in 4 weeks to double check that the cyst is gone! I am sure yours will go away too. Hope that helped!
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  • Sookie16Sookie16

    I had the same thing happen to me at my 18 week u/s and it appears many of us are going through it.

     Try not to worry about it, checking out the web site a pp mentioned, I think choroidplexuscyst.org, was very comforting for me.  99% of the posters had positive outcomes.

    Try a search on the bump for these cysts to find the other threads we were talking about it, many people are going through this.

    Big hugs! It'll be ok :)

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