Spontaneous Regression In Non-hodgkin’s Lymphoma; Clinical And Pathogenetic Considerations

Abstract

Cystic hygromas are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that usually are located along the posterior surface of the neck. Prenatal sonographic detection of nuchal cystic hygromas generally is thought to carry a poor prognosis, and these lesions often are associated with chromosomal aneuploidies such as Turner syndrome. We report a case of spontaneous resolution of a prenatally detected cystic neck mass in a fetus with a normal karyotype and a normal outcome. This case demonstrates that in the absence of fetal hydrops, in utero detection of a nuchal cystic hygroma does not necessarily indicate an unfavorable prognosis, but occasionally can be associated with a normal clinical outcome.