Quistes tímicos, una patología infrecuente del mediastino / Thymic cysts, an unusual disease of the mediastinum

Los quistes tímicos representan el 1 - 5 por ciento de las masas del mediastino anterior. Por su relativa frecuencia, constituyen un grupo importante entre los quistes mediastínicos. Generalmente son asintomáticos, pero pueden presentarse con disnea, dolor torácico y tos. PRESENTACIÓN DE CASOS: Se presentan tres casos de quiste tímico en pacientes de género femenino de 54, 59 y 70 años. Todas refirieron historia de más de un año de evolución de síntomas como dolor torácico, tos, disnea y disfagia. Se estudiaron con radiografía y tomografía computada de tórax que demostró imagen de tumor mediastínico de aspecto quístico. Por tratarse de lesiones sintomáticas, en todas se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico. En el intraoperatorio se observaron quistes tímicos de gran tamaño, los cuales fueron resecados en su totalidad, sin incidentes. Estudio histopatológico concluyó quiste tímico en los tres casos. Las pacientes no presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias y en el seguimiento se encontraron asintomáticas. DISCUSIÓN: Los quistes del mediastino son lesiones poco comunes. Su origen histológico es variado. Se describen los quistes broncogénicos y tímicos como los más frecuentes, sin embargo, también se cuentan los de origen pleural, pericárdico y esofágico. En particular, los quistes tímicos generalmente se localizan en el mediastino anterior. Se describen los de origen congénito y los adquiridos, cada uno con características propias. El tratamiento quirúrgico es indicación en pacientes sintomáticos, y se considera un método seguro con baja morbilidad. El diagnóstico se confirma con la resección de la lesión y el estudio histopatológico...

Thymic cysts account for 1-5 percent of masses of anterior mediastinum. For its frequency, are described as an important group of mediastinal cysts. Usually are asymptomatic, but they may present as chest pain, dyspnea and cough. CASEREPORT: Three cases of thymic cyst in female patients of 54,59 and 70 years old are presented. All of three patients reported history of over a year of evolution with symptoms like chest pain, cough, dyspnea and dysphagia. They were studied with thorax radiography and with chest computed tomography which showed a mediastinal cystic tumor. Because they had symptomatic lesions, surgical treatment was performed. During surgery large thymic cysts were observed. The lesions were totally resected without incidents. Histopathological study concluded thymic cyst in all three cases. The patients did not have postoperative complications and were asymptomatic in the follow-up. DISCUSSION: Mediastinal cysts are uncommon lesions. Histological origin is varied. Bronchogenic and thymic cysts are most common, however, pleural, pericardic and esophagic cysts are also observed. Particularly, thymic cysts are often located in anterior mediastinum. Congenital or acquired origin are described, each one with specific characteristics. Surgical treatment is indicated in symptomatic patients, and is considered a safe approach with low morbidity. The diagnosis is confirmed with the surgical resection and histopathological study...

Pseudoquiste de páncreas con extensión a mediastino / Pancreatic pseudocyst extended to the mediastinum: case report

We report a 53 years old male consulting for chest pain and dyspnea. On physical examination, an epigastric mass was detected. A TC scan showed a collection located in the omental bursa, which protruded over the posterior gastric wall and ascended to the mediastinum. Due to the presence of pancreatic calcifications, a pancreatic pseudocyst was suspected. The mediastinal cyst was drained percutaneously, leaving pig tail drainage in the cavity. Afterwards a cyst excision and Roux en Y gastrostomy was performed. After the surgical procedure the cyst became infected, requiring antimicrobials. After two weeks he was discharged in good conditions.

Los pseudoquistes de páncreas representan el 75 por ciento de las lesiones quísticas del páncreas y generalmente se circunscriben en el abdomen. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con un pseudoquiste de páncreas con extensión transhiatal a mediastino. Estos casos deben sospecharse mediante una historia clínica detallada y preguntando por antecedentes de dolor abdominal previo porque la clínica con la que se suelen manifestar es muy poco específica. El tratamiento de los pseudoquistes con extensión a mediastino debería ser el drenaje definitivo, bien de forma quirúrgica o endoscópica.

[ case report of anterior cervical mass of thymus]

Ectopic cervical thymus is a rare cause of neck masses and can be found anywhere along its embryologic tract of descent from the angle of the mandible to the superior mediastinum, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children. Because most cases are not symptomatic, usually remains without diagnosis. Such anomalies are rarely diagnosed pre-operatively and often revealed by pathologic examination after operation. We introduced a 12-years-old girl with a soft left cervical mass anterior to Sternocleidomastoid muscle, from four months prior to refer, with firm consistency in touch and mild pain. With the initial diagnosis of lymphadenopathy was treated with antibiotics but did not respond to treatment. The patient underwent complete excision of the lesion and histological examination that showed an ectopic thymic cyst. This anomaly rarely diagnosed before surgery and can be mistaken easily with other cervical masses. Surgery is curative and the disease has excellent prognosis

Pericardial cyst: a rare congenital anomaly

Pericardial cyst is an uncommon congenital abnormality that can occur in the middle mediastinum. The clinical presentation is variable and can range from asymptomatic patients in whom the diagnosis is incidental to those cases with complaints such as pain or heaviness in chest, difficulty in breathing or cough. These cysts can lead to cardio-pulmonary complications such right main stem bronchus obstruction, ventricular outflow obstruction, pulmonary artery stenosis, arrhythmias or cardiac temponade which can prove fatal. Due to the variable nature of patients' complaints and grave complications associated with pericardial cyst, a detailed work-up is necessary to reach a diagnosis. We present this case in a middle-aged man who presented with feeling of heaviness in chest. He underwent thorough work-up in order to detect a pericardial cyst

Evolução de um cisto pericárdico após tratamento de pericardite aguda / Development of a pericardial cyst after treatment of acute pericarditis

Relata-se o caso de uma paciente internada com quadro de pericardite aguda, de provável etiologia viral, em que foi detectada presença de cisto pericárdico. Houve recidiva de sintomas da pericardite uma semana após tratamento com AAS por sete dias. Após uso de AAS por um mês e colchicina por três meses com remissão total dos sintomas, houve redução importante no tamanho do cisto pericárdico.

Pericardial cyst due to tuberculosis in an adolescent.

Patient with a mediastinal mass may be diagnosed incidentally or following evaluation for the symptoms due to compressive effects on the adjoining structures. Pericardial cysts account to 6% of mediastinal masses. Echocardiography, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging aid in accurate diagnosis and localization of these cysts. Anaesthesia for patients with these cysts may occasionally turn out to be catastrophic during induction or in postoperative period. Surgery is the preferred choice of treatment in these patients.

Hydatid disease of the lung mimicking a pericardial cyst.

We report a young girl who presented to us with chest discomfort and had a paracardiac mass on chest radiograph. Computerised tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax was suggestive of pericardial cyst. Hydatid serology was negative. The cyst was excised.

Quiste multiloculado de timo / Multiloculated thymic cyst

Los quistes de timo son lesiones de mediastino extremadamente raros y generalmente asintomáticos. Pueden ser divididos en dos tipos:quistes tímicos uniloculares, considerados como malformaciones del desarrollo, originados en remanentes embrionarios del conductotimofaríngeo y los quistes tímicos multiloculares, considerados de naturaleza reactiva como resultado de inflamación de las estructurasderivadas del epitelio ductal medular tímico. Habitualmente son descubiertos por Rx de control, en muy pocos casos se manifiestan portos, disnea u otro síntoma inespecífico. Radiológicamente se presentan como una tumoración redondeada de bordes lisos; con la TAC selogra precisar su naturaleza quística, de pared fina, y el contenido con densidad acuosa. Se presenta este caso de quiste multiloculado, quesimuló radiológicamente otros tumores mediastínicos...

Thymic cysts of the mediastinum are extremely rare lesions that are usually asymptomatic. They can be divided into two types: unilocular thymic cysts which are considered as developmental malformations arising from embryonic duct remnants; thymopharingeal and multilocular thymic cysts which are considered of reactive nature as a result of inflammation of the structures derived from thymic medullary ductal epithelium. They are usually detected by Rx control; rarely do they manifest themselves by cough, dyspnea or other symptoms. Radiologically the tumor presents itself with smooth rounded edges; by TAC the thin walled cystic nature, density and water content can be established. We present this case of a multilocular cyst which prior to surgical treatment, radiologically simulated various medastinal tumors.

Cervical thymic cyst: a case report.

Cervical thymic cysts are rare benign lesions. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical cysts in paediatric age group. This paper presents a case of a 6 years male child who presented with gradually increasing painless mass on right side of neck. Surgical excision was done. Histopathological study revealed features diagnostic of thymic cyst. It was clinically diagnosed as branchial cleft cyst. Though rare, thymic cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children.

Quiste hidatídico mediastínico: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Mediastinal hydatid cyst: Case report and review

Hydatid disease is caused by the larval stages of a cestodes belonging to the genus Echinococcus. In humans, hydatid larva and cysts are located > 90 percent in the liver and/or lungs. Primary mediastinal location, with absence of documented lung infection, is extremely rare and has not been previously reported in Chile. We report the first case of a primary mediastinal hydatid cyst in Chile and review the literature. A 38 year old woman was admitted because of a painful right supraclavicular mass, dyspnea on exertion and logical dysphagia. Presurgical evaluation evidenced a mediastinal tumor extending to the cervical region that was successfully removed. The diagnosis of mediastinal hidatyd cyst was confirmed macroscopically and by biopsy.

La hidatidosis es una parasitosis producida por la larva o quiste del cestodes del género Echinococcus. Una vez que el parásito infecta al hombre se ubica, en más de 90 por ciento de los casos, en hígado o pulmón. La localización mediastínica sin afección pleuropulmonar previa es extremadamente infrecuente. En Chile no hay reporte de casos con tal ubicación. Se presenta el primer caso en Chile de un quiste hidatídico (QH) mediastínico: el caso de una mujer de 38 años que consultó por aumento de volumen doloroso supraclavicular derecho, asociado a disnea de esfuerzo y disfagia lógica, cuyo estudio preoperatorio mostró un tumor de mediastino con extensión cervical de aspecto nodal y de naturaleza incierta. Se operó con éxito en nuestro hospital, comprobándose durante la operación y por la biopsia, el diagnóstico de QH mediastínico. Adjuntamos las imágenes más relevantes y las fotografías de la operación y la pieza quirúrgica, como también una revisión de la literatura médica.

Posterior mediastinal gastroenteric cyst in neonate

Posterior mediastinal enteric cysts are infrequently reported. They are mostly asymptomatic 1. The incidence of gastroenteric cysts presenting during immediate neonatal period is rare. Alimentary tract duplications are other rare congenital anomalies and are commonly seen in relation to the ileum. However, the high incidence of associated thoracic or cervical vertebral anomalies with foregut cysts provide an early clue to the diagnosis 2. A detailed timely antenatal scan can increase the awareness regarding such rare condition and help in diagnosis and better outcome. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the clinical diagnosis and management of a neonate with posterior mediastinal gastroenteric cyst

Hiperplasia timica verdadera asociada a un quiste timico unilocular: una combinación inusual no reportada previamente / Thymus hyperplasia true associated to a mediastinal cyst unilocular: an unusual combination not reported previously

Se estudió una masa tumoral mediastinal en una mujer de 53 años, que se presentó unicamente con tos pertinaz que resulto ser una hiperplasia tímica verdadera asociada con un quiste tímico unilocular, considerado como de tipo congénito. El timo bilobulado obtenido fue normal macro y macoscópicamente excepto por su tamaño (12 x 12 x 3.5 cm) y peso (97 g). Mostró tejido tímico normal, separado en lóbulos por septos adiposos y con buena demarcación córtico-medular. La relación timo-tejido adiposo era aproximadamente 80:20. En la cara anterior del timo había un quiste uniloculado de 5 cm en diámetro, con contenido líquido claro y superficie interna lisa y gris blanquecina. Microscópicamente, el quiste estaba tapizado por un epitelio cúbico y cilíndrico bajo con tejido tímico de aspecto normal en la pared. Esta combinación inusual de hiperplasia tímica verdadera y quiste tímico uniloculado no ha sido reportada previamente en la literatura

Thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal bronchogenic cyst: a case report and review of literature.

Thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal cysts results in less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and better cosmetic outcome when compared to the standard thoracotomy. We report successful thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal cyst in a 17-year-old male who presented with right-sided chest pain.

Thoracic duct cyst presenting as a left supraclavicular mass.

Thoracic duct cysts may occur either in the mediastinum or in the neck. The majority of such lesions occurring in the neck consist of chylous fistulae and are secondary to surgery on the neck. Fewer than five cases have been reported in the literature of primary thoracic duct cysts occurring in the neck (1).

unusual cervical swelling in a child

Congenital thymic cysts are rare benign lesions, frequently seen in the neck and mediastinum, but because of their infrequent occurrence and similarity to other more common cystic swellings, their preoperative diagnosis is not considered. Congenital thymic cysts although rare should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical and mediastinal cystic swellings in children. This is a case report of a multilocular cervical thymic cyst in a child