Peritoneal Inclusion Cyst Mimicking Adrenal Pathology in a Young Man: A Rare Case Report

Area of Science:

• Abdominal Imaging
• Surgical Pathology
• Rare Diseases

Background:

• Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PICs) are uncommon benign fluid-filled lesions, typically affecting women of reproductive age.
• PICs in males, especially without predisposing factors, are rare and present diagnostic difficulties due to nonspecific symptoms and imaging findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of peritoneal inclusion cyst in a young male.
• To emphasize the diagnostic challenges and considerations for PICs in atypical populations.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 19-year-old male with chronic abdominal pain.
• Diagnostic workup included sonography, CT, MRI, and functional/serological tests.
• Surgical excision followed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.

Main Results:

• A large retroperitoneal cystic lesion was initially suspected to be an adrenal cyst.
• Post-surgical histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a peritoneal inclusion cyst.
• The patient experienced an uneventful recovery.

Conclusions:

• Peritoneal inclusion cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal cystic lesions in young males, even without typical risk factors.
• Accurate diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical evaluation, advanced imaging, and histopathology.
• This case underscores the diagnostic complexity of PICs in atypical presentations.