Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be

talking to you about cystic hygroma. And if you want to follow along with written notes on this topic,

you can follow along at Zerodefinals.com slash cystichygroma or in the E&T section of the

Zero to Finals Pediatrics book. So let's get straight into it.

A cystic hygroma is a malformation of the lymphatic system that results in a cyst filled with

lymphatic fluid. It's most commonly a congenital abnormality and is located in the posterior

triangle of the neck on the left-hand side.

It may be seen on antenatal ultrasound scans, picked up on routine baby checks or discovered

later when it's noticed incidentally. Let's talk about the key features. Cistic hygromers most

commonly present in the neck or the armpit. They can be very large,

they are soft, they're non-tender and they transilluminate. To transilluminate the cystic

hygroma, hold a pen torch flat against the skin and watch as the whole thing lights up like a big

light bulb. Let's talk about the complications and watch as the whole thing lights up like a big light bulb.

Let's talk about the complications.

Depending on the size and the location, cystic hygromers can interfere with feeding,

swallowing or breathing. It can become infected, in which case it will turn red, hot and tender, and the patient may become systemically unwell.

It's also possible for hemorrhage to occur with bleeding into the cystic hygroma.

Let's talk about management. Treatment varies depending on the size, location and complications.

Cystic hygroma is a benign condition, so a watching and waiting approach

can be appropriate if it's not causing any other problems. They do not tend to resolve spontaneously,

but they can show some regression over time. Aspiration of the cystic hygroma can give temporary

improvement in the swelling.

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