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Bronchogenic cysts discovered in adulthood: characteristics and management

Background: Bronchogenic cysts (BC) result from a congenital abnormality in the development of the tracheobronchial tree. BC remain asymptomatic for a long time and the occurrence of clinical signs points towards complication. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of BC discovered in adulthood. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 106 patients managed between 1985 and 2018 in the thoracic and cardiovascular surgery department of Abderrahmen Mami Hospital Ariana - Tunisia. Results: There were 47 women and 59 men, with a mean age of 42 years [18-83 years]. The most common signs were chest pain (51 cases), cough (44 cases) and dyspnea (31 cases). Dysphagia was reported in 3 cases, dysphonia in 1 case and 11 patients were asymptomatic. Chest X-ray showed a homogeneous opacity (37 cases), an air-fluid level (23 cases), a suspicious opacity (14 cases) and was normal in 16 cases. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed: inflammation (26 cases), signs of extrinsic bronchial compression (8 cases) and an endobronchial bud (3 cases). CT-scan revealed 67 intra-parenchymal BC and 37 mediastinal BC, mainly at the subcarinal level (28 cases). All patients were operated. The most common surgical approach was thoracotomy (82 cases). Cystectomy was total in 68 cases and subtotal in 13 cases. Lobectomy was required in 23 cases and segmentectomy in 2 cases. The postoperative course was uneventful in 102 cases (96.2%). Reported complications were pulmonary infection and pneumothorax. Conclusion: Because of the risk of complications, which make surgical management more difficult, surgical resection of BC is recommended, whatever the age of discovery.