Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Hi mommies,

I am preggers with our third DC and we were blessed with out first two that all tests and sonos always came back completely normal.

We had the 20 week level II last night and the baby had two choroid plexus cysts on the brain. However, the doctor looked and looked and found NO other markers on the baby that would indicate trisomy 18- normal hands, nose, heart etc.

So, I am 36 but my level I and triple screen blood tests came back 1/250,000 for trisomy 18 so the doctor said there is no need for an amnio because this isolated marker would only put me at 1/30,000 now.

I read on-line and it seems that 1/100 babies have these cysts and they go away by the third trimester and they mean nothing.....the only reason they even tell you about it is because it could be a marker for trisomy 18- but usually they would see other markers too.

I'm sitting here waiting for my ob/gyn to call me-

DH thinks an amnio is ridiculous- because you can miscarry 1/300 times-

I'm leaning away from doing one too- just wanted your opinions if anyone has any experience in this...

I would appreciate all your thoughts/opinions.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

I know 2 people who just had babies in the past year that had this. Apparently it's quite common and normally clears up.

One baby is 7 months the other is 13 months, both are healthy and happy babies. Both of them had the cysts disappear before birth.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

I had a friend with this too.

She did not opt for an amnio - she was a little older than you - 39 when she got pregnant. She basically said the amnio wouldn't change anything for her because she wouldn't terminate the pregnancy regardless.

They did LOTS of sonos throughout the pregnancy to track the size/progression of the cysts and they resolved themselves in the beginning of the third trimester.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Congratulations on your third pregnancy. Please try not to worry...easier said than done I know first hand. They found a cyst with my DD at my 20 week sonogram. The OB discussed with me, but said he had no concerns since cysts frequently show up on sonograms and I had no other markers. He expected that at 25 weeks the cysts would go away. Well I cried all the way to work and at work. I did some research online and what I found calmed me down. It confirmed what the OB said. I didn't do an Amnio, as the OB didn't recommend just for the cysts, even though I was 38. But, later in in my pregnancy when I had hypertension, I was sent for a sonogram and cysts were gone.

I hope your baby's will go away too. FM me if you wanna talk.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

My DD had that. It's quite scary to hear, but it's really quite normal. Actually, sometimes, the cysts don't clear up and people grow into adult hood w/ them. 1/100 adults walking around have 1 or 2 of the cysts.

I was not told that this was a marker for trisomy 18. They thought she also had a cleft lip, which she didn't.

After DD was born healthy (just small for an unrealted issue) I got pregnant again, sadly, with a trisomy 18 baby. The only marker was extra fluid under the neck. So, my triomy 18 baby had normal hands/feet and was bouncing around like an otherwise healthy baby.

If you did not have any other markers, I would consider that a great sign! I ONLY did the amnio b/c they thought there were 3 markers, my age being the 3rd (I was 36 at the time)

If you have any other questions, please feel free to FM.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

DS had this. I had another sono in my 3rd trimester because I wanted to make sure that it actually went away and it did.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

I was looking for the same support on here with my DD not even a year ago.

At her 20w sono we were told that she had 2 of them on her brain. I was so upset, scared, etc. We had to meet with a specialist, etc. We were offered an amnio too but was told they didn't think it was necessary because all of our bloodwork came back excellent from the NT scan and there were no other markers at all. The baby looked great otherwise.

We were told what it could be, etc and that was just horrible, but in our case they didn't feel it was. They said that they see this so often now because of the technology is so detailed so early on that they feel it's just a part of the development of the brain and that they usually go away by 28 weeks PG. Well, we had a sono at 28w and they were gone! We were sooooo relieved to say the least. Now during those 2 months waiting for that sono was hard though, I won't lie! There were no other issues at all and she's now a healthy 3 month old baby girl! (knock on wood).

She was also our 3rd baby and with my boys nothing was ever seen on the sonos, bloodwork, etc. So for us, it was really scary too!

I just wanted to share what we went through, thinking the worse. You're not alone. But I do feel it's absolutely nothing and they'll go away on their own too! I also opted not to get the amnion done because "what if". This was our last baby and I just couldn't imagine if god forbid it caused a miscarriage.

It definitely made me feel soooo much better hearing this from the specialist though. My doctor who I love to death told me she sees this once a week now a days and I shouldn't worry since she didn't feel it was anything either, but I'm a worry wart and had to go to the specialist anyway. It definitely put my mind at ease. If you want to, it will do that for you too! After that appt. I just stopped worrying and even thinking about it. I was able to continue on enjoying my PG. I wasn't able to for those 2 months though. I couldn't name her or anything baby. Very upsetting too since it was my last PG. I was suppose to enjoy it.

Anyway, please try not to worry. I'm sure it's nothing!!!

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Ladies- thank you SO much for your stories- it helps so much to hear that this is so common and usually nothing.

I just heard from my ob/gyn and he does not recommend an amnio.

He said that he absolutely trusts the tech and the doctor and there was NOTHING else on the anatomy scan that would indicate trisomy 18 or 21.

Also, my numbers before the level II that were based on the level I and the AFP were 1/250,000 for both Down's and Trisomy 18 which are very good for a 36 year old.

Now, with the cysts, they are 1/30,000. Still very very good. So, that's why he wouldn't recommend an amnio.

He said these cysts are very common and he agreed that they may be moving away from even caring about them if they are isolated.

So, we go for another sono in 8 weeks and see if they went away.

I still feel down- but tonight we open the envelope to find out the baby's sex!

Thank you all so much!

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Just want to send you . But, also, as others said this is pretty common. I have a friend that is pg right now and has the exact same story as you. Her OB told her the exact same thing - she is not getting an amnio and is just going back for another sono. I'll let you know how it turns out

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

BOTH nieces had this. My SIL was upset both times..I think my first niece had one and the second niece had two..

However, both times they disappeared by the end of pregnancy. She was told it is SO SO common...she had two perfectly healthy babies!

Hope this helps!!

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Also..you are completely right. If there aren't any other markers, all is usually 100% fine! I would not do an amnio unless it was really suggested but i doubt thats the case!

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

OMG I sooo know how you feel.

But listen....
My DD had one in her brain as well. It was actually caught on her 16 week sono (I was seen by hi risk fro a completely unrelated issue).

My high risk dr did explain to me the are quite common and in isolation are not significant. He did mention it was one of the marker for Trisomy HOWEVER it is with the combination of others as well (and even that doesnt mean something always as well).

Of corse I was devstated actually came on here as well asking the same thing.
By 24 week sono guess what....it was GONE!
AND to give you further relief my high risk dr explained to me that even at 24 weeks if it was still present that STILL would not have meant anything!
He said there was no need for an amnio and really reassured me so I hope I am doing the same for you.
I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who is 20months now and perfect!!

I chose not to have the ultra screen blood work portion so I didnt have that to fall back on either way.
Try and stay calm

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

DS had this and they disappeared like the dr. thought they would. I completely understand how you are feeling right now its scary to hear.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

i was told the same thing at my level II sono and i flipped out. i was told that there were no other markers and i shouldn't worry. obviously i still worried- how can you not? in the end, all turned out fine, thank g-d. good luck.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

Landon had choroid plexus cycts, around 18 and 20 weeks. They were gone by my level 2 which was at 21.5 weeks.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

DD had a small one that was gone by 28 weeks. it's scary but usually nothing.

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

DD had CP cysts at my first level 2 (at 16wks). The doc didn't see anything else wrong, but couldn't seen enough of her heart (b/c it was so early) to say that it was formed properly.
I spent a month not knowing if my little girl was ok...I didn't even buy any girl things or register because I was too scared!

The ladies on this board who had been through it were so helpful. I didn't end up having an amnio or anything further testing. I had another level 2 at 20wks and they were gone.

This is a pretty common thing and they usually go away. My doctors were not worried at all...my high risk dr. even said that a lot of people are walking around with the cysts right now, and functioning fine.

My DD is now a healthy, happy 6.5mo old. I am sure your LO will be healthy as well. Hang in there!!

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

My younger DS had bilateral CPCs plus two of the other soft markers for genetic disorders at our Level II (week 22).

We met with a genetics counselor who advised us our chances of having a baby with any disorders were very small, but we scheduled the amnio to be sure.

At week 22, day 3 (no joke, 3 days later) at the amnio, the neonatologist couldn't see any signs of the CPCs OR the other markers on the sonogram. They spent so much more time looking for the CPCs than on the actual amnio --

It was a scary three days, and I still feel like my prayers were answered for a healthy baby -- my midwife reminded me the baby was healthy all along.....

Re: Moms who have had experience with choroid plexus cysts in pregnancy

DS also had this at my 20 week sonogram, it was all cleared up by my 30 week sono. I know its hard not to worry but everything will be fine