Published online May 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i15.2586
Revised: February 28, 2024
Accepted: April 7, 2024
Published online: May 26, 2024
Processing time: 169 Days and 21.2 Hours
Bronchogenic cysts are rare developmental anomalies that belong to the category of congenital enterogenous cysts. They arise from lung buds and are present at birth. The embryonic foregut is their origin. Typically, they are located within the chest cavity, particularly in the cavum mediastinale of the thoracic cavity or lodged in the pulmonary parenchyma, and are considered a type of lung bud malformation.
A 49-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to the detection of a retroperitoneal mass during a physical examination. Two weeks before admission, the patient underwent a physical examination and routine laboratory tests, which revealed a space-occupying mass in the retroperitoneal region. The patient did not report any symptoms (such as abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, high fever, or chills). The computed tomography (CT) revealed a retroperitoneal space-occupying lesion with minimal enhancement and a CT value of approximately 36 Hounsfield units. The lesion was not delineated from the boundary of the pancreatic body and was closely related to the retroperitoneum locally.
Following a series of tests, an abdominal mass was identified, prompting the implementation of a laparoscopic retroperitoneal mass excision procedure. During the investigation, an 8 cm × 7 cm cystic round-shaped mass with a distinct demarcation was identified in the upper posterior region of the pancreas. Subsequently, full resection of the mass was performed. Postoperative pathological examination reveled a cystic mass characterized by a smooth inner wall. The cystic mass was found to contain a white, viscous liquid within its capsule.
Core Tip: A 49-year-old male with no significant medical or family history was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal mass during a routine physical examination, despite showing no typical symptoms. The absence of common diseases such as hypertension or diabetes in his medical history, with normal physical examination and laboratory results, highlighted the unusual nature of this case. The mass, detected incidentally, underscoreds the importance of routine health checks in identifying potentially serious conditions in asymptomatic patients. This case emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive evaluations and the need for surgical intervention in managing unexpected findings, demonstrating the value of caution in routine medical examinations.