[Esophagectomy for Bronchogenic Cyst within the Esophageal Muscle Layer with Dysphagia:Report of a Case]

A 26-year-old man referred to our hospital because of dysphagia and a mediastinal tumor detected on chest computed tomography (CT). A contrast-enhanced CT revealed a 12 cm long cystic tumor along the right thoracic esophagus. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed no abnormalities in the esophageal mucosa, and an unclear boundary between the tumor and the esophageal wall was observed by echography. In surgery, the tumor and the esophagus were in one lump, and esophagectomy was performed. On the fourth postoperative day, esophagogastric anastomosis was performed with poststernal reconstruction, and the patient was discharged home on the 38th postoperative day. Pathological examination revealed that the mass was a cystic lesion within the esophageal muscular layer, and the cyst wall was coated with airway-like multi-lineal hairy epithelium, which led to the diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst. Even if the cyst is within the esophageal muscularis layer, bronchogenic cyst should be considered in the differential.