Umbilical cord cyst

Umbilical cord cyst

Dr Bruno Di Muzio◈ and Dr Yuranga Weerakkody◉ et al.

Umbilical cord cysts can refer to any cystic lesion associated with the umbilical cord. They can be single (commoner) or multiple.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

They may be seen in ~3% of pregnancies in the first trimester 8.

PATHOLOGY

Umbilical cord cysts can represent either true or false cysts:

ASSOCIATIONS

There are increased associations (especially when there are additional sonographic abnormalities and if there is persistence in the 2nd or 3rd trimester) with certain chromosomal/structural anomalies (reported in the up to 20% in one study 8):

RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

ANTENATAL ULTRASOUND

They tend to be eccentric in relation to the umbilical cord 7. It can be almost impossible to differentiate a true cyst from a pseudocyst on sonographic grounds. The cyst sizes can be variable ranging from a few millimeters up to 5 cm 11.

TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS

Most advocate a detailed sonographic assessment to be performed if an umbilical cord cyst is seen. A transient cyst which resolves on subsequent imaging is considered to carry an excellent prognosis.

Concerning factors include:

  • multiple cysts 10
  • presence of other sonographic abnormalities
  • persistence during serial sonographic assessment or persistence into the 2nd or 3rd trimester

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

On ultrasound, consider: