ORIGINAL ARTICLE Post-natal outcomes of antenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal cysts: a 22-year single-institution series H. S. Thakkar • C. Bradshaw • L. Impey • K. Lakhoo Accepted: 3 November 2014 / Published online: 16 November 2014 Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to establish the post- natal diagnosis and outcome of antenatally diagnosed intra- abdominal cysts between 1991 and 2013 at our institution. Methods All antenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal cysts between 1991 and 2013 were identified using a foetal anomaly database. The cysts were monitored for resolu- tion. In all cases where the cyst had not resolved antena- tally, additional post-natal scans were conducted. Antenatal diagnosis, post-natal diagnosis and outcomes were also recorded. Results 118 cases of antenatal intra-abdominal cysts were identified over the 22-year study period with a 98 % live birth rate. The overall accuracy of an antenatal diagnosis at our institution was 92 %. 26 cases (22 %) resolved sponta- neously in utero, the majority of which (77 %) were ovarian in nature. Four tumour cases were identified in the series, which included two neuroblastomas, one yolk sac tumour and one teratoma. 90 cysts persisted post-natally with 52 % requiring surgery. These primarily included choledochal and enteric duplication cysts as well as symptomatic solid organ cysts. Diagnostic revision was limited to 8 % of cases over the study period with an overall improvement over the last decade. Overall, 40 % of all antenatally diagnosed cysts required surgical intervention. In those cysts that persisted post-natally, 52 % required surgery. Conclusions A fifth of prenatally diagnosed intra- abdominal cysts will resolve with most ovarian cysts regressing in utero. Half of all persistent cysts will, how- ever, require surgical intervention. These data are useful for prenatal counselling and demonstrates the important role played by the paediatric surgeon in the overall man- agement of intra-abdominal cysts. Keywords Antenatal Á Intra-abdominal cysts Á Post-natal outcomes Introduction Abdominal cysts diagnosed antenatally represent both normal variants and pathological entities. Antenatal coun- selling gives the paediatric surgeon the ideal opportunity to discuss these possibilities with prospective parents. The most common imaging modality used for antenatal scan- ning is ultrasound (US). The sensitivity and specificity of US were recently reported to be 88.1 and 95.7 %, respec- tively [1]. An accurate diagnosis is essential not only for accurate counselling but also for arranging the antenatal and post-natal care that may be required in the immediate newborn period. In 2008, our centre reported the outcomes of all antenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal cysts over a 13-year period. We sought out to extend this to a 22-year period and report the largest such series providing both all antenatal specialists with data that can facilitate counsel- ling and provision of services. Materials and methods A retrospective case series review was conducted for all infants with antenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal cysts between 1991 and 2013. Cases were identified using the Congenital Anomaly Register for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire (CAROBB) at the John Radcliffe H. S. Thakkar (&) Á C. Bradshaw Á L. Impey Á K. Lakhoo Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK e-mail: hemanshoo@gmail.com 123 Pediatr Surg Int (2015) 31:187–190 DOI 10.1007/s00383-014-3635-2