Health Encyclopedia

Cystic hygroma

Definition

A cystic hygroma is a sac-like structure with a thin wall that most commonly occurs in the head and neck area.

Alternative Names

Lymphangioma

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

A cystic hygroma is a birth defect. It occurs as the baby grows in the womb from pieces of material that carries fluid and white blood cells. Such material is called embryonic lymphatic tissue. After birth, a cystic hygroma usually looks like a soft bulge under the skin. The cyst can't be seen until after birth, and sometimes is not noticed until the person is older.

Symptoms

A common symptom is a neck mass found at birth, or discovered later in an infant after an upper respiratory tract infection.

Signs and tests

The following tests may be done:

Chest x-ray
Ultrasound
CT scan

Treatment

Treatment involves complete removal of the abnormal tissue whenever possible. However, cystic hygromas can often invade other neck structures, making this impossible.

Other treatments have been attempted with only limited success. These include:

Chemotherapy medications
Injection of sclerosing medications
Radiation therapy
Steroids

Expectations (prognosis)

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.

Complications

Complications may include:

Bleeding
Damage to structures in the neck caused by surgery
Infection
Return of the cystic hygroma

Calling your health care provider

If you notice a lump in your neck or your child's neck, call your doctor.

Review Date:9/26/2007
Reviewed By:Deirdre O’Reilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.