Fetal nuchal edema

Fetal nuchal edema is a term describing a swollen fetal cervical region. It can be thought of as a less severe form of a cystic hygroma.

Pathology 

It can arise from diverse causes including:

• chromosomal anomalies
  • trisomies
• congenital cardiovascular anomalies
• fetal pulmonary defects
• skeletal dysplasias   
• congenital infection
• underlying metabolic and hematological disorders

Radiographic features

Antenatal ultrasound

Nuchal edema is considered significant if it covers the back and sides of the neck with more than 3 mm thickness up to the 14week of gestation, and more than 4-6 mm later. Septations are absent (c.f cystic hygroma) .

It may either be seen in the 1 trimester as increased nuchal translucency or in the 2 trimester as increased nuchal thickness.

Siehe auch:

• Hydrops fetalis
• nuchal translucency
• nuchal thickness
• Noonan-Syndrom