Laparoscopic resection for oesophageal duplication cyst: A case report

Oesophageal duplication cyst is a congenital malformation and rare tumour, clinically manifesting as dysphagia, epigastric pain, or respiratory distress. Duplicate cysts associated with abscess formation or mediastinal penetration and malignancies have been reported, necessitating surgical resection.

A 55-year-old woman had chest discomfort for 1 year. Preoperative imaging, including computed tomography (CT), upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound, revealed a tumour extending from the anterior wall to the lesser curvature of the near the oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) and a suspected mural nodule within the tumour. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a cystic nodule on the wall of the lesser curvature of the OGJ, with an unclear boundary between the cystic nodule and the oesophageal wall. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an isointense signal on T1-weighted imaging and hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. Laparoscopic lower oesophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were performed to the confirm mucinous cyst. Pathological findings revealed a cystic lesion in the muscularis propria of the OGJ filled with mucinous components and lined with multilayered columnar epithelial cells. The cyst was diagnosed as a duplicate without malignancy.

Since the border between the cyst and the oesophageal walls was unclear, and the cyst potentially contained a malignant component, instead of cystectomy, lower oesophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were performed with oesophagogastric anastomosis using the double-flap technique, tailored specifically for OGJ cancer.

Oesophageal duplication cysts are rare. Lower oesophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy are selective surgical approaches for cyst duplication at the OGJ.