A cystic hygroma is a birth defect where there is a mass, usually on the neck or in the underarm area. The mass can fill with lymph fluid and/or blood. It might even become infected. Your diet does not cause a hygroma and eating a particular way will not treat it, but there are treatments available.
Cystic Hygroma
Cystic hygroma affects approximately one out of every 12,000 newborns, according to Dr. David Hackam, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatric surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, writing in “Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery.” The mass grows either because lymph vessels do not develop as they should or because there is some type of blockage. As a result, instead of normal lymph vessels, cysts form containing lymph fluid. A cystic hygroma can happen anywhere in the body, but usually occurs at the back of the head, around the back, neck and in the armpit.
Consequences
A lymphangioma is another name for this disorder, because an angioma is a swelling made of lymph vessels and/or blood vessels. Sometimes, a cystic hygroma contains blood vessels that bleed and make the hygroma enlarge quickly. Staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria can cause infection in the cysts, making them grow rather fast. Regardless, most will grow and press on any nearby structure, as explained in the “Atlas of Emergency Medicine” by Dr. Matthew Mittiga, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. A specific diet will not treat this disorder.
More Consequences
If a cystic hygroma in the neck becomes very large, an infant or child can have problems breathing. If one develops in a fetus – because lymph fluid from the head is blocked and cannot drain into the large jugular vein in the neck – it can interfere with the developing heart. Thus, cystic hygromas can increase the risk for malformations of the heart, according Dr. F. Gary Cunningham, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas in “Williams Obstetrics.” They are also associated with Down syndrome and Turner syndrome. A particular diet cannot correct this condition.
Treatment
There are two basic ways to treat a cystic hygroma; having the infant or child eat certain types of food is not one of the treatment choices. The hygroma will need to be cut and removed or injected with a medication to make it shrink, as described by Dr. Craig Albanese of the department of surgery at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery.” The surgeon will decide how to treat this disorder, whether to remove it or inject it, based upon the results of an MRI or CT scan.
References
- Atlas of Emergency Medicine; Kevin Knoop, M.D. et al.
- Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Orthopedics; Harry Skinner, M.D., Ph.D.
- Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery; Gerard Doherty, M.D.
- Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery; F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D.
- Williams Obstetrics; F. Gary Cunningham, M.D. et al.
