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Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst: from antenatal diagnosis to surgery
Pietro Betalli1, Dalia Gobbi, Enrico Talenti
1Pediatric Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128, Padua, Italy.
Insights
Ciliated hepatic foregut cysts are rare liver lesions. This case highlights surgical excision in a child with biliary obstruction, emphasizing antenatal diagnosis and follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Ciliated hepatic foregut cysts (CHFCs) are extremely rare, benign liver lesions.
- CHFCs are believed to originate from embryonic foregut remnants within the liver.
- This condition is the only known ciliated cystic lesion in the liver.
Observation:
- A 16-month-old girl presented with a hepatic cyst initially detected via antenatal ultrasonography.
- The cyst's size increased postnatally, leading to extrinsic biliary obstruction.
- Surgical intervention was performed due to uncertain etiology and mass effect.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst.
- This represents the fourth pediatric case reported in the literature.
- It is the second reported case involving surgical excision and the second with antenatal diagnosis.
Implications:
- Early antenatal diagnosis of CHFCs is possible and crucial.
- Surgical excision is an effective treatment for symptomatic CHFCs in children.
- Further reporting of pediatric cases will enhance understanding of this rare condition.
Abstract:
Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst is the only ciliated cystic lesion known to occur in the liver. It is an extremely rare, benign and solitary cyst that probably arises from remnants of the embryonic foregut in the liver. We report a 16-month-old girl who underwent surgical excision of a hepatic cyst discovered during antenatal ultrasonography. Surgical exploration and excision were performed because of the uncertain aetiology of the cyst and because on postnatal follow-up US the size of the mass had increased causing extrinsic biliary obstruction. Pathology revealed a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst. This is the fourth child affected by this lesion reported in the literature, the second undergoing surgical excision, and the second with antenatal diagnosis.
