Cystic Hygroma Overview
Learn About Cystic Hygroma
A cystic hygroma is a growth that often occurs in the head and neck area. It is a birth defect.
Lymphangioma; Lymphatic malformation
A cystic hygroma occurs as the baby grows in the womb. It forms from pieces of material that carry fluid and white blood cells. This material is called embryonic lymphatic tissue.
After birth, a cystic hygroma most often looks like a soft bulge under the skin. The cyst may not be found at birth. It typically grows as the child grows. Sometimes it is not noticed until the child is older.
A common symptom is a neck growth. It may be found at birth, or discovered later in an infant after an upper respiratory tract infection (such as a cold).
Treatment involves removing all of the abnormal tissue. However, cystic hygromas can often grow, making it impossible to remove all of the tissue.
Other treatments have been tried with only limited success. These include:
- Chemotherapy medicines
- Injection of sclerosing medicines into the cystic hygroma
- Radiation therapy
- Steroids
Dubois Regional Medical Center
Ghassan Bejjani is a Neurosurgery provider in Du Bois, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bejjani and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cystic Hygroma. His top areas of expertise are Cerebellum Agenesis Hydrocephaly, Posterior Fossa Tumor, Spinal Stenosis, Vertebroplasty, and Bone Graft.
Zachary Naser is a General Surgeon in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Naser and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cystic Hygroma. His top areas of expertise are Hygroma Cervical, Cystic Hygroma, Cavernous Lymphangioma, Ear Barotrauma, and Gastric Bypass.
Dlp Conemaugh Physician Practices LLC
Philip Hlavac is a Neurosurgery provider in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Hlavac and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cystic Hygroma. His top areas of expertise are Subdural Hematoma, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Tumor, Stroke, and Laminectomy.
The outlook is good if surgery can totally remove the abnormal tissue. In cases where complete removal is not possible, the cystic hygroma commonly returns.
The long-term outcome may also depend on what other chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects, if any, are present.
Complications may include:
- Bleeding
- Damage to structures in the neck caused by surgery
- Infection
- Return of the cystic hygroma
If you notice a lump in your neck or your child's neck, contact your health care provider.
Summary: Recent studies have demonstrated that growth of vascular malformations can be driven by genetic variants in one of 2 signalling pathways. Targeted drugs specific to these pathways have been developed and shown to be effective in treating cancer. This study will describe the effectiveness of (i) 48 weeks of alpelisib therapy for participants with slow-flow vascular malformations and a gene mutation...
Published Date: September 10, 2023
Published By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bell EB, Nugent A, El-Deiry MW. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 113.
Kelly M, Tower RL, Camitta BM. Abnormalities of lymphatic vessels. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 516.
Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Lower airway, parenchymal, and pulmonary vascular diseases. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 136.
Richards DS. Obstetric ultrasound: imaging, dating, growth, and anomaly. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.