A CASE OF TAILGUT CYST

Abstract

A 45-year-old female was seen at the hospital because of constipation. Digital examination of the rectum revealed an extramural mass in the posterior wall of the rectum. Barium enema examination demonstrated an extrarectal compression from the posterior side in the lower rectum. CT scan and ultrasound image demonstrated a multicystic tumor in the presarcral space. The mass was diagnosed as presacral cystic tumor and dissected with transsacral approach. The mass was multicystic tumor, 6×2×1cm in size. The largest cyst, 2×2×1cm in size, were filled with pasty substance. The smaller cysts, measuring from 0.5 to 1.5cm, contained mucus. Microscopically, most of the cyst walls were lined with stratified squamous epithelium and stratified columnar epithelium. Some portions of the cyst wall were lined with mucus-secreting simple columnar epithelium. Consequently, the histopathological diagnosis of the cyst was tailgut cyst. Tailgut cyst is a rare entity and only six cases have been reported in Japan. With the spread of the term tailgut cyst, it may be more frequent in the presacral cystic tumors.