A Case of Fetal Vesicoallantoic Cyst in the Umbilical Cord

Abstract

A vesicoallantoic cyst in the umbilical cord was detected by fetal ultrasonography at 16 weeks of gestation. The blood flow through the umbilical vessels was evaluated with periodic color Doppler ultrasonographic examinations because compression by the cyst may cause reduction in blood flow and lead to fetal death. After disappearance of the cyst, the infant was delivered vaginally. Retrograde cystography revealed a narrow channel between the bladder and the navel, confirming patent urachus, which was resected without any complications.

Umbilical cord cysts in the second and third trimesters: significance and prenatal approach

“…Smith et al 6 described one case with a transient cyst at the end of the first trimester and two cases at 23 and 39 weeks of gestation, and also reviewed the literature and summarized the outcomes of another 21 cases of persistent second‐ and third‐trimester umbilical cord cystic masses reported between 1982 and 1996, finding a rate of abnormal outcome of 83%. There was a particular association between umbilical cord cysts and abdominal wall anomalies, including omphalocele6, 8, 25–27 and patent urachus7, 13, 16, 28–34.…”

“…Among the structural defects, a remarkable association exists between umbilical cord cysts and abdominal wall anomalies, including omphalocele6, 8, 25–27 and patent urachus7, 13, 16, 28–34 (Table 2). The correct diagnosis is crucial in these cases because the outcome of neonates with patent urachus is usually favorable after surgical closure of the defect, while omphalocele requires complicated serial abdominal wall reconstruction and is highly associated with aneuploidy.…”

Prenatal Diagnosis of a Patent Urachus Cyst with the Use of 2D, 3D, 4D Ultrasound and Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Urachus cysts are usually isolated and associated with a good prognosis after surgical repair [4,5] . Rarely reported in literature, they can be associated with omphalocele [6] , genitourinary malformations (unilateral kidney, solitary crossed renal ectopia, hydronephrosis, hypospadia and vaginal atresia) [7,8] or fused umbilical arteries [9] , and they can appear as part of prune belly syndrome [10] .…”

Prenatally diagnosed patent urachus with bladder prolapse

“…The cyst disappears around gestational week 22 to 32 according to the present and previous reports. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The cyst probably ruptures as urine output increases and with development of the fetal abdominal wall.…”