Abdominal cyst is a general term used to describe a rare, congenital (happening before birth) birth defect that causes an irregular mass of tissue to grow in your baby’s abdomen (see pictures below).
Cysts can range in size, location and severity, and cause a variety of symptoms. This can make them very hard to detect and diagnose. Growths can appear anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive organs like the ovaries.
Sometimes in the gastrointestinal tract, the cysts appear to duplicate (copy) the cells and structures of the organs they are attached to. For this reason, gastrointestinal cysts are often called duplication cysts.
Abdominal cysts can be found during prenatal (before birth) tests through an ultrasound. The diagnosis of cysts during pregnancy helps doctors plan the type of care your baby will receive after birth. Early diagnosis can also help the medical team anticipate life-threatening problems caused by cysts. Some cysts may not be found until a newborn develops symptoms such as trouble breathing, jaundice (a liver condition that causes a baby’s skin and eyes to turn yellow) or signs of intestinal blockage.
Surgery is the most common treatment for cysts, and results are generally good. Some cysts may require more extensive surgery in order to repair complex problems involving many organs. However, some abdominal cysts will go away on their own before the baby is born or be so small that they do not require surgery. Cysts can also indicate the presence of other serious birth defects, so your doctor will watch your pregnancy closely.
Abdominal cysts are very rare. Because there are so many different types of cysts, no single cause has been detected.
Abdominal cysts are usually discovered during pregnancy when a routine ultrasound shows an abnormal growth. Your doctor may order additional imaging studies to help get more information about the size and location of your baby’s cyst including:
In some cases, cysts may not be discovered until the child is older and starts to experience problems. In rare cases, adults have been found with untreated cysts.
Types of Abdominal Cysts
If a test finds you are carrying a baby with an abdominal cyst, you will continue to receive care from your doctor. You may be referred to the Ohio Fetal Medicine Collaborative (OFMC), who will help you connect with a doctor who takes care of high-risk patients.
You may also meet with a multidisciplinary team including neonatologists, surgeons and nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to learn more about your baby’s care before and after he or she is born. There is a wide range of cyst types and treatments. Nationwide Children’s fetal medicine nurse coordinators can answer your questions and concerns, guide you through your pregnancy, and help prepare you for what to expect.
Your doctor will watch your pregnancy closely. You will deliver your baby at a hospital that is prepared to care for high-risk babies. Contact your doctor immediately if you ever have any concerns.
At the delivery hospital, a neonatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating newborns) will manage the care of your baby. The specifics of the care your baby receives will depend on your child’s exact condition. Depending on Your Baby’s Condition:
Many cysts will go away on their own before babies are born. Rarely, a large cyst found before birth may need to be aspirated (drain fluid) by a high-risk obstetrician who specializes in performing these procedures. After birth, some cysts (especially ovarian cysts) may only need drainage of fluid rather than surgery. Aspiration of an abdominal cyst is usually performed with the baby sedated to minimize pain. A radiologist uses an ultrasound machine to guide a needle into the cyst to aspirate the fluid. The cyst is then followed with repeat ultrasounds for several months to make sure that it does not require aspiration again.
Even small cysts have the potential to cause future medical problems, so depending on the type and location of the cyst, doctors will talk with you about some form of treatment. Many cysts can be removed by surgery, and most children will recover fully without problems. If a cyst cannot be completely removed surgically, doctors may drain fluid out the cyst, or remove parts of the cyst.
Laparoscopic surgery is often used to remove cysts. For this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons make several tiny incisions (cuts) on the abdomen and use special tools to remove the cyst. If your child’s cyst is connected to multiple organs or has caused problems that impact the function of their organs, more extensive reconstructive surgery will be needed. Some children will develop new cysts later in life, and will need additional surgeries.
The exact type of surgery your baby needs will depend on the diagnosis. Your baby’s recovery time from treatment will depend on what type of cyst they have or if other organs are involved.
After surgery, your baby will continue to receive care in the NICU. Your baby may need to be on a breathing machine until he or she is fully recovered from surgery. The total length of time your baby will stay in the hospital will vary, depending on whether he or she is born with other health issues.
Preparing for Home:
We will teach you to care for your baby at home. We will show you how to:
Your baby will need regular follow-up appointments to measure growth, development, and nutrition. You will want to find a local pediatrician to take care of the routine checkups, immunizations, and doctor’s visits. The Nationwide Children’s nurse coordinator can help if needed.
Lifelong Considerations
There is a small chance that cysts can come back, so parents should be aware of signs and symptoms that could signal your child has a cyst.
Future Pregnancies
Most parents who have one child with an abdominal cyst are unlikely to have another with the condition.