Prenatal Diagnosis of Choroid Plexus Cyst: What Next?

Fetal choroid plexus cysts (CPC) are often detected on prenatal ultrasounds and pose a need to formulate protocol for management and counseling.

A total of 1024 unselected cases between gestational ages 11 and 20 weeks were sonologically screened for CPC in 1-year period. On ultrasound, CPC are seen as sonolucent spaces in the echogenic choroid plexus of lateral ventricles of brain measuring at least 2-3 mm in diameter. Those diagnosed with CPC were subjected to thorough anomaly scan. Prenatal karyotype was offered in cases of associated anomalies.

The incidence of CPC is 1% (10/1024) in this study. Associated anomalies were found in 20% (2/10) of cases, which were offered invasive testing for fetal karyotype. All the cases with isolated CPC had good outcome.

Isolated CPC with low-risk biochemical screening for aneuploidies are now considered normal variants rather than a pathology, need no invasive testing and carry a good prognosis. CPC associated with other anomalies warrant invasive testing and are more likely to be associated with Trisomy 18.