Objective:

Bronchogenic cysts are very rare congenital cystic lesions which are residues of the embryonic primitive foregut buds while migration. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of operated bronchogenic cysts.

Materials and Methods:

In our study; thirteen (n=13) patients with bronchogenic cysts who were treated surgically between January 2008 and June 2016 at our institution were evaluated. Symptoms at diagnosis, radiologic findings, locations, surgical methods, pathological findings and surgical outcomes were researched retrospectively from consecutive patient medical records.

Results:

Three (24%) male and 10 (76%) female patients with a mean age of 49±15,7 years (range 26-74 years), were included in our study. The most common symptoms were respectively cough (70%), dyspnea (38%), pain (16%), fever (16%) while three (24%) patients were asymptomatic. There were nine (68%) paratracheal, two (16%) infracarinal, one (8%) intraparenchymal, one (8%) paraesophagial located cysts. 12 of bronchogenic cysts (92%) were located in the right chest while one of them (8%) was in the left. Complete cyst excision was performed in 10 cases (76%) with thoracotomy, in two cases (16%) with VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery), in one case (8%) with video-mediyastinoscopy. Median cyst diameters was calculated as 4,6±1,4 cm (range 3-7 cm). The mean follow-up period and lenght of hospital stay was 33±40,4 months (range 3 to 100 months) and 3,5±1,7 days (range 1-6 days), respectively. One (8%) case had complicated cyst. Complications were observed in 3 (24%) patients (Pneumonia, wound infection, diaphragm paralysis). There was no mortality and recurrence detected during the followup period.

Conclusion:

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital cystic lesions which are rare but they can even lead to life-threatening situations. Because of symptoms that may occur in the future, the development of various complications, malignant transformation and successful results of surgical treatment in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients the basic treatment should be surgery with low mortality, morbidity and recurrence rates. We conclude that the minimally invasive procedures developed in recent years like video mediyastinoscopy and VATS may be an alternative of thoracotomy in appropriate patients.

Keywords: bronchogenic cyst, surgery, thoracic, thoracic cyst