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A case of cutaneous bronchogenic cyst over the left scapula
1Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
A rare cutaneous bronchogenic cyst, a congenital anomaly, presented as a growing mass on a 4-year-old boy's back. Histopathology confirmed features consistent with this rare developmental abnormality.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Pediatric surgery
- Dermatopathology
Background:
- Bronchogenic cysts are congenital anomalies arising from aberrant budding of the primitive foregut during embryonic development.
- These cysts typically manifest in the chest but can occur ectopically, presenting diagnostic challenges.
- Understanding their developmental origins is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old boy presented with a gradually enlarging, child-fist-sized soft mass over his left scapula, present since birth.
- The mass appeared externally as a simple cyst containing clear, mucoid fluid.
- This presentation is atypical, as bronchogenic cysts commonly appear in the presternal area.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination revealed a unilocular cyst.
- The cyst wall was characterized by ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle, and mucous glands.
- These microscopic features are diagnostic hallmarks of a bronchogenic cyst.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering ectopic presentations of bronchogenic cysts in pediatric patients.
- Accurate histopathological analysis is essential for diagnosing these rare developmental anomalies.
- Awareness of such presentations can aid clinicians in timely diagnosis and appropriate surgical planning.
Abstract:
Bronchogenic cyst is noted shortly after birth or in early childhood and usually presents as a swelling or draining sinus in the presternal area. Its origin and pathogenesis can be explained as a developmental anomaly of the tracheobronchial buds from the primitive foregut. The patient was a 4-year-old boy with a child-fist-sized soft mass over his left scapula, which had been detected at birth and had been gradually growing. Grossly, it appeared to be a simple cyst with clear mucoid fluid. Histopathological study demonstrated a unilocular cyst composed of ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelia, interspersed goblet cells, smooth muscles, and mucous glands on the cyst wall, which are features compatible with cutaneous bronchogenic cyst.