Peer Reviewed

Pediatrics

What's Your Diagnosis?

Alexander K. C. Leung, MD--Series Editor, and WM. Lane M. Robson, MD

Volume 5 - Issue 12 - December 2006

 

  • cystic hygroma

    HISTORY

    Mass noted on the right side of newborn's neck.

    Patient delivered vaginally at term to a G2P1 24-year-old mother following an uncomplicated pregnancy. Apgar scores, 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. No history of maternal exposure to teratogens. Parents non-consanguineous. No family history of congenital or chromosomal abnormality.

    PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

    Infant not in distress on examination. Soft cystic mass on neck measures 5×3×7 cm. Mass was brilliantly translucent and not attached to the overlying skin. Trachea in midline; no abnormality noted in the nasopharynx. A cystic hygroma is a developmental anomaly of the lymphatic system that is characterized by the formation of a multilocular cystic mass of variable size. The term "cystic hygroma" was first used by Wernher in 1843.1

    WHAT'S YOUR DIAGNOSIS?