Successful laparoscopic resection for gastric duplication cyst: a case report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Congenital Malformations

Background:

• Gastric duplication cysts are rare congenital malformations, comprising a small percentage of all gastrointestinal duplications.
• These cysts are infrequently diagnosed in adults, and distinguishing them from other cystic lesions preoperatively poses a diagnostic challenge.

Observation:

• A 46-year-old woman presented with a cystic lesion in the pancreatic tail, initially detected via ultrasonography.
• Imaging studies, including computed tomography and endoscopic ultrasonography, suggested a mucinous cystic neoplasm due to the lesion's characteristics and suspected viscous mucus.
• Laparoscopic tumor resection was performed based on the preoperative diagnosis.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination revealed a cyst with a structure mimicking the stomach wall, including crypt epithelium, muscularis mucosae, intrinsic muscularis, and serosa.
• The cyst contained mucus and had partial drainage from intrinsic gastric glands, confirming the diagnosis of a gastric duplication cyst.
• Crucially, the cyst demonstrated no continuity with the stomach wall or pancreatic tissue.

Implications:

• Differentiating gastric duplication cysts from mucinous cystic neoplasms preoperatively remains difficult, often necessitating surgical intervention.
• Gastric duplication cysts carry risks of infection, bleeding, perforation, obstruction, and malignant transformation, underscoring the need for prompt treatment.
• Surgical resection is advised as the primary treatment option for gastric duplication cysts to mitigate associated complications and potential malignancy.