Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst: a case report

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Surgical pathology
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Bronchogenic cysts typically arise from the primitive foregut and are usually located superior to the diaphragm.
• Intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal locations for bronchogenic cysts are exceptionally uncommon.
• This case represents the first reported instance of a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an extremely rare case of a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst.
• To emphasize the importance of including bronchogenic cysts in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic lesions.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges, as initial imaging may suggest other pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 23-year-old male with an incidentally detected retroperitoneal cystic lesion.
• Review of medical history, imaging studies (suggesting adrenal tumor), and histopathological analysis for definitive diagnosis.
• Literature review on rare presentations of bronchogenic cysts.

Main Results:

• A retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst was incidentally diagnosed in a young male following a wrestling injury.
• Initial imaging studies were misleading, suggesting an adrenal tumor.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst, differentiating it from neoplastic or other cystic lesions.

Conclusions:

• Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cysts, though exceedingly rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in this anatomical region.
• Accurate histopathological analysis is crucial for the definitive diagnosis of retroperitoneal bronchogenic cysts.
• This case underscores the variability in presentation and location of congenital foregut anomalies.