Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal cystic hygroma.

The terms cystic lymphangioma or hygroma have been used to describe large, single or multilocular, fluid-filled cavities. While such cavities are most often located on one side of the fetal neck, they occasionally are multiple and may be found in other locations, such as the axillary regions, mediastium, oral cavity and groin. Bilateral hygromas of the neck are not uncommonly observed in aborted fetuses, often in association with wide-spread lymphangiectasis. A case is presented of a fetus with cystic hygromas in the cervical region which were revealed by prenatal ultrasonographic examination.