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[Mesenteric cysts in childhood]
Insights
Mesenteric cysts in children present with acute abdominal pain, often leading to intestinal obstruction. Surgical removal is effective, with all patients surviving without complications, indicating a good prognosis for these rare malformations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Mesenteric cysts are rare intra-abdominal masses, with varied clinical presentations.
- In adults, symptoms are typically chronic, but in children, acute onset due to intestinal obstruction is common.
Observation:
- Five pediatric patients (3 boys, 2 girls, aged 2-10 years) presented with acute abdominal pain due to mesenteric cysts.
- Sonography was the preferred diagnostic imaging modality, utilized in two cases.
- Surgical management involved either simple cyst enucleation (3 patients) or cyst excision with small intestine resection (2 patients).
Findings:
- All five pediatric patients with mesenteric cysts survived the surgical intervention.
- No short-term or long-term complications or cyst recurrences were observed post-surgery.
- Early diagnosis and complete surgical resection are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Implications:
- This study highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and surgical management of pediatric mesenteric cysts.
- Effective treatment leads to excellent patient outcomes, preventing potential life-threatening complications.
- Sonography plays a key role in the early identification of these pediatric gastrointestinal malformations.
Abstract:
5 children with mesenteric cysts, 3 boys and 2 girls, aged 2 to 10 years, were admitted with acute abdominal pain. In adults the most common symptom is chronic abdominal pain whereas in children the onset of symptoms is acute due to intestinal obstruction. Sonography, performed in two patients, is the diagnostic method of choice. Excision of the cyst required resection of the small intestine in 2 patients, while simple enucleation was possible in 3. All 5 patients survived, and there have been neither complications nor recurrences. Early recognition and appropriate resection of these occasionally life-threatening malformations are associated with a good prognosis.