Diagnosis of Non-Immune Hydrops Foetalis and Cystic Hygroma in a 20-Week Foetus: A Case Report

Abstract

Hydrops foetalis (HF) is the excessive fluid accumulation in at least two foetal body cavities, including pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities, with associated soft tissue oedema. Most cases of hydrops foetalis were due to severe erythroblastosis foetalis, secondary to Rhesus isoimmunization. However, other variants include non-immune hydrops foetalis (NIHF). Foetal cystic hygroma, which occurs due to lymphatic obstruction, is commonly associated with immune hydrops foetalis (IHF). A combination of the conditions in a foetus tends to portend an abysmal prognosis because it can lead to abortion, intrauterine foetal death (IUFD) and early neonatal death (ENND). We report a case of a 22-year-old woman with a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of a combination of NIHF and foetal cystic hygroma at 20 weeks of gestation. Therefore, there is a need for early diagnosis of the anomalies so that early termination of pregnancy can be performed if the patient desires.

Keywords

• antenatal care
• cystic hygroma
• foetus
• non-immune hydrops foetalis
• ultrasound scan