There is a Cyst on the Brain

TheGregory's07 · March 2011

of our Baby Boy. We had our big U/S today and instead of walking out on clouds I am now on pins and needles while I wait the results of a quad screen. And then we go from there if it is nothing they will monitor it and if I don't know what we go to a specialist.

AmorXAeterna · March 2011

I am so sorry, I will be thinking of you and hoping everything turns out okay. ::HUGS::

SheLovesMrHip · March 2011

Big hug and I will keep you in my prayers!

nbbride06 · March 2011

(((hugs)))

TheGregory's07 · March 2011

lrachelle80:
Oh, I'm so sorry. Tons of T&P to you and your family...those can resolve themselves, right?? So scary. Fingers crossed SO HARD.

It can and that is what we will find out on Friday after the result from my quad screen. YES I am so pissed that my Ob talked me out of it earlier in the pregnancy. I am so unsure what my OB means when if the results comeback bad that I have to to the M? specialist ( I was so overwhelmed that I did hear all the letters).

If the results comeback okay, we will monitor it through u/s the rest of the pregnancy.

I guess right now, I am on pins and needles waiting to hear back.

shanna82 · March 2011

I'm sorry ((hugs)) that is so scary! T&Ps that it is a harmless cyst and goes away!

ginamcp · March 2011

Lots of thoughts and prayers for you and your little boy.

Junebug060609 · March 2011

T&P that its something that can resolve itself and that yor Baby Boy will be fine. I'm so sorry you guys are going through this right now. (((hugs)))

VeilSdeGTO · March 2011

I've got FX'd for you that things turn out well with your baby boy.

MrsManning10 · March 2011

I'm so sorry... Sending tons of T&P's that everything turns out okay. (((hugs)))

rock-elle · March 2011

I'm so sorry that this can't be easier for us, but I truly trust that all will be ok for us. **Big hugs**

Nikki1219 · March 2011

I'm sorry! I'll be praying that everything will turn out great! hugs!

puppy love 2 · March 2011

I am so sorry, waiting for the results must feel like forever. ((Hugs)). My T&P will be with you and your LO.

Jupitermoon · March 2011

I wish you all the best. Everything will be ok. Keep us posted.

OrangeDaisy13 · March 2011

I'm so sorry. Sending T&P your way, and I hope that everything is just fine.

MrsAtch · March 2011

I'm so sorry. I have everything crossed for you. I have a good friend who had a similar experience with her middle boy and it resolved itself. I'll be praying for you. Please keep us posted. (HUGS)

rguinn75 · March 2011

((HUGS)) lets try to think positive!!! lots of T&P

pennynjon · March 2011

I am sorry. I hope that it is nothing serious. You will be in my prayers. ((hugs))

Clerk9 · March 2011

TheGregory's07:
It can and that is what we will find out on Friday after the result from my quad screen. YES I am so pissed that my Ob talked me out of it earlier in the pregnancy. I am so unsure what my OB means when if the results comeback bad that I have to to the M? specialist ( I was so overwhelmed that I did hear all the letters).
If the results comeback okay, we will monitor it through u/s the rest of the pregnancy.
I guess right now, I am on pins and needles waiting to hear back.

Can you recall if they said it was a choroid plexus cyst?

If so, then we've just been through a very similar experience. Our baby has an echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) -- a bright spot in her heart on ultrasound that is also one of the common "soft markers" for chromosomal issues like Down Syndrome.

My understanding is that, on their own, these "soft markers" can be present in a small percentage (but significant number) of normal babies & aren't necessarily anything to panic about (easier said than done, right?). Part of the problem when trying to figure out how significant these things are is that these markers have mostly been studied in women/babies who are already labelled as "high risk" (meaning they have other reasons to suspect a problem). So a lot of the research/info. you're going to find is in a skewed population & can make things look a lot worse than they really are.

While I was looking up research on our baby's findings, I came across this website, which may be of some help:

https://choroidplexuscyst.org/

But keep in mind that the research may be misleading & I'd take everything with a grain of salt until you can ask your doctor(s) more questions.

The specialist they're going to send you to is called an MFM doctor = Maternal Fetal Medicine. They will likely do a more detailed (level 2) ultrasound with a better machine just to redo all of your son's measurements, recheck on the cyst, & make sure they're not seeing anything else of concern. They can also give you the option of doing an amnio at that point to find out for sure what's going on. In your case, the results of your quad screen should really help to put the u/s findings in perspective (we didn't have one, either, so it was less clear if there was anything else going on), but they can only tell you for sure if there's a chromosomal defect by doing the amnio.

I'm sorry this is so long, but I just had my MFM appointment yesterday (see post below) & wanted to give you an idea of what to maybe expect! I really hope that the cyst resolves itself & isn't an indication of anything more serious. I know this is going to sound impossible, but try your best to stay relaxed until your MFM appointment.

((BIG HUGS)) & best wishes for good news on the way.

ashhope84 · March 2011

I am so sorry. Thinking of you and your little boy.

Teresa1896 · March 2011

My baby has this, too. The doc explained that the cysts themselves are perfectly harmless and don't have any effect on functioning, personality, or memory. She said they do usually resolve themselves, and that they alone are not a reason to worry. She is an MFM doc, too, since my doc doesn't do those screenings. My blooodwork came back fine, and there were no other markers for any chromosomal issues, so she said the cysts are probably just an anomoly. I go back for another ultrasound in a few weeks to cehck amniotic fluid levels and the doc said the cysts will most likely be gone by then.

I know how scary it is to hear those words, but try not to panic! Sending good thoughts your way.

bryanandkatrina · March 2011

Lots of thoughts, prayers and positive vibes for you guys ((((hugs))))

PrincessDi80 · March 2011

I am sorry you are going through this :-(

KCKSarah · March 2011

Thinking about you and your family!

HadleyS · March 2011

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

olivia_eve · March 2011

Oh honey, I'm so sorry you have to worry about this. I will keep my fingers crossed that it isn't serious and resolves itself. ((hugs))

DowagerCountessofNJ · March 2011

You and Baby Boy will be in my thoughts.

camdenfaithful · March 2011

(((((HUGS)))))

I'm so sorry you guys are going through this, I can't imagine how scary it must be.

Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed that everything turns out just fine.

ewilliams1127 · March 2011

If it makes you feel any better I was born with a cyst right near my spinal cord in my brain. It's still there and I'm fine. The neurologist noted it on my records during a migraine work-up and said that I would have lived my whole life and never knew it was there. He stated he saw it was found in utero but has not moved, changed or impeded my life at all.

T&P that everything is fine!

Karen1998 · March 2011

TheGregory's07:
lrachelle80:
Oh, I'm so sorry. Tons of T&P to you and your family...those can resolve themselves, right?? So scary. Fingers crossed SO HARD.
It can and that is what we will find out on Friday after the result from my quad screen. YES I am so pissed that my Ob talked me out of it earlier in the pregnancy. I am so unsure what my OB means when if the results comeback bad that I have to to the M? specialist ( I was so overwhelmed that I did hear all the letters).
If the results comeback okay, we will monitor it through u/s the rest of the pregnancy.
I guess right now, I am on pins and needles waiting to hear back.

The quad screen will basically give you odds on a couple of diseases/disorders. If I remember correctly, it gives you odds on Cystic Fibrosis, Down's and Trisomy 18. If your odds are within normal range, you'll get a "negative" result. If they're not, then you'll get a "positive." Be aware though that they do have a false positive issue (my doc said 5-10% get false positives), so they're not infallible. They also have a false negative issue, though it may be less. My Mayo Clinic book mentioned it, but didn't give statistics. However,it's basically a (mostly) non-invasive test to help figure out if you might need a more invasive one (amnio).

I'm sorry you're going through this. It has to be really scary. I have read that a lot of these are simply soft markers for disorders and go away prior to birth, so hopefully yours is one of those. Big ((((hugs)))) and T&Ps for you and your LO.

ColleenS629 · March 2011

T&P that everything will be alright.

quezzo · March 2011

My nephew had one of these show up at his anatomy scan. My SIL was freaked out and they monitored it, but it ended up clearing up all on its own.

Today he is a smart, almost too smart, 7-year-old. I hope your little boy's clears up too. ((HUGS))

julesjb · March 2011

((hugs)) I hope it is nothing and you can get some good news very soon. You will be in my thoughts

ravenorchid · March 2011

((Hugs)) I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Just to let you know, I had a friend whose baby had a cyst on his brain and it turned out to be totally fine. He is now a healthy, bright 4-year-old. I hope you get good news from the quad screen.