Bronchogenic cysts in adults - analysis of 15 cases and review of the literature

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital anomalies resulting from abnormal budding of the tracheobronchial tree. Generally are asymptomatic in adults, unless infected or compressing neighbouring structures, and usually are discovered on routine examinations. Controversially, more recent studies report a high incidence of symptoms in adults, but worthlessed in routine examinations. The authors report 15 patients seen at the Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery and Image Diagnosis Departments of the Heliopolis Hospital, Sao Paulo State, between 1977 and 1996 (20 years), which undergone surgical excision for pulmonary (n=11) and mediastinal (n=4) bronchogenic cysts. There were 11 men and 4 women, with ages between 17 and 74 years. Sixty-six percent were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. All the patients were investigated with chest radiographs, and 4 of them with computed tomography. All cysts localized in the mediastinum were excised locally, while the intrapulmonary ones needed pulmonectomy in a variable degree. Through a literature and a casuistic analysis the authors discuss the main etiology, clinical, surgical and radiological features of bronchogenic cysts. (author)