Esophageal duplication cyst in an adult masquerading as submucosal tumor

Esophageal duplication cyst with hemivertebrae: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Esophageal duplication cysts (EDCs) are rare congenital anomalies that can be associated with symptomatic spinal abnormalities, but presentations due to EDC symptoms are rarely found in the presence of spinal abnormalities.

CASE SUMMARY

A 6-month-old infant weighing approximately 5.0 kg presented with a 2-month pulmonary infection and more recent difficulty swallowing and nutritional intolerance that did not improve with medical treatment. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography showed a well-defined, mediastinal, homogeneous, low-density cystic mass of 11.9 × 5.5 × 5.1 cm, compressing the liver and bending the trachea forward. Hemivertebrae were present (T4 and T3). Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, but was converted to open surgery. After ensuring that the cyst was not within the abdominal cavity, thoracotomy was performed, and the cyst was completely resected. Pathophysiological examination revealed an EDC. The patient recovered well, without symptoms 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, noninvasive imaging and diagnostic procedures may not be sufficient to define the exact location of an EDC. Although hemivertebrae were present, they were asymptomatic and did not require treatment; only the EDC induced nonspecific symptoms that disappeared after surgery.

Intramural esophageal tumors

Introduction

Intramural esophageal tumors (IET) are located between unchanged mucous membrane and muscularis mucosae. They can be both benign and malignant.

Aim

To evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of IET.

Material and methods

During the years 2010–2015, 11 patients with IET were treated in our clinic. Diagnostics included gastroscopy, computed tomography of the chest, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle biopsy, and positron emission tomography (PET) of the esophagus in cases with no histopathological confirmation.

Results

Based on the conducted analysis we diagnosed 1 case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), 1 case of adenocarcinoma, and 2 cases of esophageal cysts. In another 7 cases radiological images resembled leiomyoma but with no histopathological confirmation. Esophagectomy was performed in 2 cases of malignant tumors and 1 case of a large benign tumor. In other cases surgical enucleation of tumors was performed. Postoperatively we diagnosed 6 cases of leiomyoma, 1 case of schwannoma, 2 esophageal cysts, 1 case of GIST and 1 of esophageal cancer.

Conclusions

Intramural esophageal tumors is a very diverse group of tumors, both malignant and benign. In every case of IET we should seek histopathological conformation. Treatment of IET depends on localization, size and histopathological type of lesion.

True Intramural Esophageal Duplication Cyst

Esophageal duplication is the second most common site of gastrointestinal duplication and most cases present with complications. These complications include bleeding, infection, dysphagia, and dyspnea. We report an incidental case of a true intramural esophageal duplication cyst in a new military recruit. The patient was diagnosed in Armed Forces Hospital, Oman. The patient came for a pre-recruitment routine check-up, he was found to have a suspicious soft tissue lesion on chest X-ray. He was referred to the thoracic surgeon for further investigations. The investigations included computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging chest scans, barium swallow, endoscopy and, finally, an endoscopic ultrasound. All workup pointed to a diagnosis of esophageal duplication cyst; therefore, the decision was made to excise the lesion after discussion with the patient about the possible diagnosis and nature of the treatment. The cyst was completely excised thoracoscopically with uneventful recovery. The patient was discharged a few days later and was doing well in subsequent visits to the outpatient department. The histopathological exam confirmed the diagnosis of a true congenital duplication cyst, which was lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium overlying double layers of thick bundles of smooth muscle fibers.