How Common Are Umbilical Cord Cysts

Umbilical cord cysts are sacs of fluid in the umbilical cord. They’re not common—less than 1 in 100 pregnancies (less than 1 percent) has an umbilical cord cyst. Your provider may find an umbilical cord cyst during an ultrasound.

Are umbilical cord cysts normal?

The prevalence of umbilical cord cystic masses detected in the first trimester is 0.4% to 3.4%. The second- and third-trimester umbilical cord cysts are a rare sonographic finding and its prevalence is unknown. There is a strong association between umbilical cord cysts and fetal anomalies but not in all cases.

What causes cysts on umbilical cord?

Umbilical cord cysts are usually classified as true cysts or pseudocysts. True cysts are derived from the embryological remnants of either the allantois or the omphalomesenteric duct, are located typically towards the fetal insertion of the cord and range from 4 to 60 mm in size21-23.