Giant idiopathic benign retroperitoneal cyst: a case report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Primary retroperitoneal cysts are rare, benign entities often found incidentally.
• Symptoms, when present, are typically non-specific due to mass effect on adjacent structures.
• Complete surgical resection is the definitive and curative treatment.

Observation:

• A 79-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and distension.
• CT revealed a giant retroperitoneal cyst (35x25x21 cm) causing significant mass effect.
• The cyst lacked radiological features of malignancy.

Findings:

• A median laparotomy allowed for complete excision of the giant retroperitoneal cyst.
• Histological examination confirmed the absence of malignancy or atypia.
• The patient's symptoms were attributed to the large cyst's mass effect.

Implications:

• Idiopathic retroperitoneal cysts can grow to massive sizes, causing chronic symptoms.
• Prompt surgical intervention is crucial for symptomatic patients.
• Complete excision ensures a curative outcome for these benign retroperitoneal masses.