Fetal MRI and Brain Cysts

[HereWeGoAgain2DD]

Hi all sorry hope I’m not being unreasonable for reposting in here for more traffic and maybe hoping someone might know of other people’s experiences too.

I am 24 weeks pregnant with DD2.

Unfortunately during our 20 week scan it was found that baby has a cyst of some sort in her posterior fossa above the brain. The consultants at Queen Charlottes seem confident that the baby has an arachnoid cyst and I will need an MRI to confirm it is this and not something more destructive.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and what the outcome was for their baby? Did baby need to be born early? Were you able to have a natural birth? What kind of monitoring happened for the rest of the pregnancy?

Also what can I expect from the MRI? Will I get some indication on the day or do I have to wait until the consultant appointment a couple of weeks after?

Sorry for all the questions I really dont know what to expect and wont be seeing the paediatric neurologist for another 2/3 weeks.

Thanks flowers

Anyone?

for you HereWeGo as that all sounds very worrying.

I'm sorry I can't help with you understanding the medical condition/procedure/outcome. However I do have experience with Queen Charlottes and I think you and DD2 will receive excellent care there.

Good luck!

Zero medical experience here too, but wishing you the very best of luck that everything goes well and you get some answers soon.

I’d be very comforted that they seem confident and in no great rush, actually. A friend who had a complication was whipped in the same day. They really don’t seem to mess about so the fact that they seem confident about your dd cyst and just checking in a few weeks would reassure me I think.

You aren't likely to be told on the day of the MRI. They are more complex than ultrasound.

I don't know further details though

Thanks everyone will just have to wait and see what happens I guess. I was also thinkIng It’s reassuring thats its not being rushed until they said they will only do MRIs after 24 weeks and only have it once a week? And then as its so specialised it takes up to 2 weeks to analysis? So very confused really and just hopeful for a good outcome.

I’m sorry to hear this, it must make you so understandably anxious. Just wondering if your community midwife can answer some of your questions. They will have supported women through similar circumstances before.

@TigerBreadAddict I did talk to my midwife but she wasn’t able to give me any information and the specialised midwife deals mostly with chromosome issues. My consultant called the whole thing an enigma and can’t give me any information until after the results from the neurologist. We feel very much left on our own but also understand there is nothing that can be answered until after the results come in.

Was just hoping to hear some similar experiences but really appreciate the support from everyone.

This happened to a friend of mine. In her case the baby was born at term and totally fine. The cyst had resolved itself in theirs trimester.

However, I don’t know the stats and things. This is just one example. It caused her no end of worry.

Good luck!

You could post on this thread for advice:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3639183-I-m-a-specialist-screening-fetal-medicine-midwife

I'm a midwife myself and I have seen mixed outcomes to these kinds of things - some women's babies' cysts resolve spontaneously and some cause minor problems in infancy. A few cause bigger difficulties.

I hope you get good news and some clarification. It is so worrying when things like this happen.

My son had a cyst on his cerebellum. It was discovered at 16w (twin pregnancy so earlier scan) and was referred to Fetal Medicine in Oxford who offered us a double amino and MRI at 32w.

Have you had any genetic testing done?

They didn't have any first hand experience of the type of cyst my son had but the neurologist was very confident in the brains ability to 're-wire' around problems.

I am sorry to say that I quickly realised that there would be no certainty in the answers they gave us - only odds, which is very emotionally exhausting. Try to see no news as good news and focus on the uniqueness of every case. The best advice they gave me was to not google his condition and other peoples stories because they would not be an accurate reflection of my sons journey and outcome.

The results of my MRI came back in 3 days and off the results of that they discussed where it was best for my twins to be born, so that we could receive the best care for my poorly twin. We then saw a paediatrician who had researched his condition and explained to us what this would mean for his life. We also saw a geneticist who explained the results of their testing had yielded no further answers.

Wishing you all the luck and strength in the world xxx

I think it's unlikely your daughter will be born early unless the cysts is causing a problem which can only be resolved outside the womb. My twins were born at 36w. I was offered an induction (so natural birth totally possible in my case) but choose an elective c-section instead.

X

Can’t comment on the cysts, but I had an MRI at about 8 months to look at my placenta.

I had to lie on my back (wedge pillow underneath so I was at a slight angle). It was a but cramped and noisy, but nothing unbearable. Went on for ages, and towards the end I was getting a bit stiff and hot, and needed to pee (you can see my bladder in some of the pictures and it was massive, definitely go to the toilet first whether you want to or not).

Wasn’t much fun, wasn’t anything to be scared of. I didn’t feel particularly claustrophobic, it was a relatively big scanner and I could see out of the top when I raised my head. But I was so wedged into position with all the pillows that I did feel a bit constricted.

Thanks I’m not too concerned about having the MRI but nice to know what to expect and thanks for the toilet tip didn’t think about that!

We were told not to worry for the moment about genetic testing until the results come in so no real reassurance there either. The waiting is definitely the worst thing as no plans or expectations can be made until Im at least 27/28 weeks.

@hardyboys hope all was well in the end with your boy

Dd had a cyst. I've only just remembered. It was mentioned at her 12 and 20 week scan as a soft marker for potential issues but turned out to be ok.

The consultants were very optimistic but unfortunately the MRI showed extensive damage to his brain stem and pons and something about his vermis being squished too. It was totally unexpected and had everyone floored, so I really don't want to worry you. It was extremely unlikely to have turned out the way it did.

Unfortunately , he started to show signs of not being able swallow in the womb and long story short - his prognosis was bleak and life expectancy short.

He passed away at 34w in the warmth and comfort of my tummy, next to his twin and having only known love. Very bittersweet.

@hardyboys thank you for sharing your story, Im so sorry to hear it wasn’t a good outcome