Central bronchogenic cyst: treatment by extrapleural percutaneous aspiration

The role and safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and management of infected bronchogenic mediastinal cysts in adults

Bronchogenic and other duplication cysts are congenital abnormalities that can present at any age including adulthood years. They are usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on radiological imaging of the chest. They are commonly treated by surgical resection. Recently, endobronchial ultrasound has been used to assist in diagnosis when radiologic imaging is not definitive. Endobronchial ultrasound has been used rarely to drain infected cysts, a rare complication of the bronchogenic cyst. We present a unique case of an infected large bronchogenic cyst treated with endobronchial ultrasound drainage combined with conservative medical therapy. We also review the scarce available literature describing such an approach and its potential complications and add recommendations based on our experience in managing these anomalies.

Efficacy and Safety of Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mediastinal Bronchogenic Cysts: Systematic Review of Case Reports

BACKGROUND

Although surgical resection of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts is considered the treatment of choice, there is increasing interest in minimally invasive approaches of management. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the role of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), either conventional or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided, in the diagnosis and management of bronchogenic cysts.

METHODS

We systematically searched the PubMed and EmBase databases for studies (until July 2014) reporting TBNA of bronchogenic cysts. Data were recorded on a standard data extraction form and is presented in a descriptive manner.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 26 studies (32 patients). The median age of the patients was 43 years. Most were men (n=15), symptomatic at presentation (n=19), and had cysts in the paratracheal location (n=14). Endosonography was performed on 16 patients. The EBUS appearance of the lesion was hypoechoic and anechoic in 11 and 5 patients, respectively. Thirty-one patients underwent TBNA (conventional: 16; EBUS-guided: 15). The intent of TBNA was therapeutic in 19 patients and diagnostic or symptomatic palliation in the others. Complications were reported in 5 (16.1%) patients [infective (n=4), bradycardia (n=1)] after TBNA; there were no deaths. The median duration of follow-up was 14 months and no recurrences were detected during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchoscopy is a useful tool in the diagnosis of bronchogenic cysts, both for confirmation of the cystic nature of the lesion by EBUS and diagnosis by TBNA (preferably EBUS-guided) of the cyst fluid. Therapeutic aspiration of the cyst may be an alternative to surgery in adults with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts.

Treatment of bronchogenic cyst surgical versus transbronchial drainage?

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital abnormalities of the bronchial tree and present with a wide range of clinical and radiologic manifestations. Asymptomatic bronchogenic cysts may become symptomatic and produce complications with passage of time. Therefore, removal of the cyst is advised. We present a case that was diagnosed as asymptomatic bronchogenic cyst. Therapeutic drainage of cystic fluid through a bronchoscope was attempted, which led to rupture of the cyst and leakage of cystic fluid into the mediastinum and pleural space, leading to complications. Finally, thoracotomy was performed, and the bronchogenic cyst was surgically removed. After surgery, the patient recovered completely. It has been concluded that transbronchial aspiration of cystic fluid may be an ineffective procedure and may lead to complications and require surgical intervention.

Thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal cysts in children

AIM

Thoracoscopy offers great advantages when compared with open surgery in terms of postoperative pain and pulmonary complications. Considering the benign nature of most of the mediastinal cysts, thoracoscopy is safe and feasible with minimal morbidity. The purpose of this article is to review our experience with four cases of mediastinal cysts resected successfully within a period of one year by thoracoscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cases of mediastinal cysts operated by thoracoscopic excision in K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai from November 2005 to December 2006 were reviewed. The age varied from six months to 10 years. The patients presented with respiratory distress or recurrent lower respiratory tract infection. All patients underwent Chest X-ray and CT scan thorax to delineate the location of the cyst and its relationship with adjacent vital structures. Two patients had anterior and two had posterior mediastinal cyst. The ports were placed depending on the location of the cyst on the CT scan, following the principles of triangularization. The cysts were excised mainly by blunt dissection.

RESULTS

All the patients were successfully managed by thoracoscopic surgery. None of them had intraoperative complications. Dissection in patient with history of recurrent respiratory tract infection was difficult because of adhesions. Intercostal drain was removed within 48hrs and the patients were discharged on the fourth postoperative day.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopy in mediastinal cysts is a safe and effective procedure with low morbidity and a shorter hospital stay.

CT-guided percutaneous large-needle aspiration and bleomycin sclerotherapy for bronchogenic cyst: report of four cases

PURPOSE

Fine needle aspiration alone has been used as a treatment for bronchogenic cysts, but is subject to a high rate of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous large-needle aspiration and bleomycin sclerotherapy of bronchogenic cysts in four patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four patients with bronchogenic cysts at subcarinal (n = 1), paraspinal (n = 1), or intrapulmonary (n = 2) sites were treated at two medical centers with percutaneous transthoracic aspiration with a 17.5-gauge needle and sclerotherapy with use of bleomycin as the sclerosant agent. Clinical symptoms were seen in three of the four patients: recurrent cough in two and recurrent chest discomfort and palpitation in one. CT was used to guide the procedures. After sclerotherapy, the sizes of ablated cysts were followed by CT.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 6-14 months), all three patients with symptoms had symptomatic relief and all four patients showed a nearly complete regression of bronchogenic cyst on follow-up CT. No recurrence was encountered. Minor complications included a small asymptomatic pneumothorax at the end of the procedure in one patient and a mild fever (38.0 degrees C-38.5 degrees C) on the first day after sclerotherapy in one patient, which resolved spontaneously without treatment. No major complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

CT-guided percutaneous treatment of bronchogenic cysts with large-needle aspiration and bleomycin sclerotherapy was safe and effective in this limited series. Further investigation of this technique is warranted.

[Mediastinal cysts: clinical approach and treatment]

Mediastinal cysts (MC), mainly from embryonic origin, are benign and rare malformative lesions, gathering several varieties according to tissue origin. Diagnosis is mostly obtained thanks to tomodensitometry performance and sometimes by magnetic resonance imaging. It may be more difficult in some atypical topographies and in case of bulky MC. The most frequent, springing from division abnormality from embryonic foregut ("foregut cysts" in English literature), are primarily bronchogenic cysts (50 to 60 % of MC), which are symptomatic in 30 to 80 % of cases. Coelomic cysts, lined by a mesothelium, result from embryologic abnormality by incomplete fusion of mesenchymal coelomic lacunae. Rarely symptomatic, excepted in cases of very large cysts, they are mainly pleuropericardic cysts (PPC) that represent 30 % of MC. Thymic cysts, around 15 % of MC, are most often asymptomatic. Cystic lymphangiomas (CL) are congenital lymphatic malformations more frequent and symptomatic in children. Diagnosed in older patients, they are most often acquired and asymptomatic. The only radical and definitive treatment is complete surgical resection of the cyst. It allows suppression of symptoms, procurement of a formal diagnosis and prevention of complications. This resection, generally indicated for all symptomatic cysts, large-sized even asymptomatic and in case of non formal diagnosis, is now recommended for all kinds of cysts except for asymptomatic PPC. This strategy is justified considering morbidity and mortality rising rates in patients treated by surgical resection at time of local complications of the cyst. Surgery is commonly performed by videothoracoscopy or by video-assisted mini-thoracotomy, mainly for PPC and CL. The more conventional thoracotomy is performed in surgery for cysts, which are adhesive to nearby structures. PPC just need a simple follow-up, and surgery is required only in case of symptoms and increasing size. In total, surgical indications for MC are large and accepted because of null postoperative mortality and very low rate of morbidity thanks to mini-invasive surgery. This militates for early surgery, without waiting for cystic complications leading to peroperative difficulties and increasing risks. This review presents the characteristics of those different cysts and the strategies currently acknowledged for the treatment.

Traitement d’un kyste bronchogénique compressif par ponction sous tomodensitométrie

INTRODUCTION

Bronchogenic cysts are benign tumours of the posterior or middle mediastinum. Treatment usually consists of complete surgical resection. We report the case of an elderly woman presenting with an inoperable bronchogenic cyst causing tracheal compression which was treated successfully using computed-tomography (CT)-guided needle aspiration.

CASE REPORT

A 92 years old woman was admitted for inspiratory dyspnoea associated with stridor. She reported the incidental discovery of a right paratracheal mass, 2 years previously. Thoracic CT scan and bronchoscopy revealed a large mediastinal bronchogenic cyst causing tracheal compression. Surgery was contraindicated because of the patient's age and cardiac disease. CT-guided needle aspiration of 250 ml of viscous fluid was performed, followed by rapid clinical improvement. The patient remained symptom free for several months. The procedure was repeated successfully one year later because of a recurrence of compression.

CONCLUSION

This observation supports the potential use of CT guided transthoracic needle aspiration as an alternative to surgical treatment in cases of inoperable symptomatic bronchogenic cyst.

Predictive factors for acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after endoscopic papillary balloon dilation

BACKGROUND

Although endoscopic papillary balloon dilation may result in acute pancreatitis or hyperamylasemia, the risk factors for these complications have not been well documented. Risk factors predictive of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after endoscopic papillary balloon dilation were retrospectively analyzed.

METHODS

In 118 patients who underwent endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for choledocholithiasis, postendoscopic papillary balloon dilation acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia (at least 3-fold elevation) were investigated. A multivariate analysis was conducted for 20 potential risk factors related to clinical and procedure characteristics.

RESULTS

Bile duct clearance was achieved in 113 patients. Early complications in the form of mild pancreatitis occurred in 7 patients (6%). Multivariate analysis identified history of acute pancreatitis as the only risk factor for postendoscopic papillary balloon dilation pancreatitis. Postendoscopic papillary balloon dilation hyperamylasemia occurred in 30 patients (25%). Multivariate analysis identified 4 independent risk factors for hyperamylasemia: an age of 60 years or less, previous pancreatitis, bile duct diameter 9 mm or less, and difficult bile duct cannulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation is associated with a relatively low occurrence (6%) of pancreatitis but a high frequency (25%) of hyperamylasemia. The latter may represent pancreatic irritation or latent pancreatic injury. Particular care is necessary when endoscopic papillary balloon dilation is performed in younger patients, those with a history of pancreatitis, patients with a nondilated bile duct, and when cannulation is difficult.

Thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts: results in 20 cases

BACKGROUND

We present our experience with thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts in adults.

METHODS

From November 1990 to September 1993, 20 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts were operated on by thoracoscopy. The average cyst size was 4.9 cm, and the largest diameter was 10 cm. Ten cysts were located in the middle mediastinum and 10 in the posterior mediastinum. Two cysts were complicated.

RESULTS

Thirteen bronchogenic cysts were resected completely by thoracoscopy. We had to convert thoracoscopy into thoracotomy because of bleeding in two cases and because of major adhesions to vital structures in five cases. There were no operative deaths and no postoperative complications. Mean hospital stay was significantly less in the completely thoracoscopically treated group. Long-term follow-up (range, 4.5 to 7.5 years) showed no late complications and no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative complications, intraoperative injuries, and major adhesions to vital structures seem to be the only unfavorable conditions to thoracoscopic treatment of bronchogenic cysts. This study found encouraging results for thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts in selected patients.

Mediastinoscopic treatment of mediastinal cysts

Selected patients with mediastinal cysts can be managed safely and effectively by mediastinoscopic techniques. Small cysts in favorable locations can be excised partially or nearly completely. Cysts that are intimately associated with vital structures are better suited to mediastinoscopic cystotomy and chemical sclerosis. Three cases are presented and technical aspects are discussed.

Recurrent respiratory obstruction from a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst

A large mediastinal bronchogenic cyst presented acutely with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and severe airflow obstruction. The patient had experienced identical symptoms on two other occasions over the previous 24 years. These had been previously misdiagnosed as due to a mediastinal lymphoma. Percutaneous extrapleural aspiration successfully decompressed the cyst with substantial improvement in lung function. Recurrent swelling of the cyst occurred that could not be relieved surgically. After repeat aspiration percutaneous instillation of bleomycin and alcohol has been used to prevent further increase in the size of the cyst.