Abstract
Benign intra-abdominal cystic masses in infancy are fairly uncommon and their etiopathogenesis, histology and clinical presentation differ significantly. Our aim is to report our experience in their treatment in order to discuss the best diagnostic and treatment modality. The medical records of 5 children (2M, 3F) with cystic intraabdominal masses referred to our hospital between November 2012 and September 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent open surgery and subsequent histopathologic analysis. Different clinical presentations, localizations of the masses, diagnostic tools, surgical approaches, histological examinations and outcomes were reviewed. Patients mean age was 5.4 years (range: 8 months-9 years). Two patients presented recurrent abdominal pain and abdominal distension; 1 patient had a palpable mass discovered incidentally and 2 complained acute abdominal pain. Routine laboratory tests, tumor markers and abdominal ultrasound were immediately done in all patients. Three patients underwent MRI and 1 abdominal CT. At laparotomy 2 hepatic cysts, 2 mesenteric cyst and 1 retroperitoneal cyst were discovered. Histology reports described: 1 hepatobiliary cystadenoma, 1 benign hepatic hamartoma and 3 cystic lymphangiomas (1 retroperitoneal and 2 mesenteric). There were no major postoperative complications, deaths, or recurrences in our series (follow-up 3-24 months). Despite the rarity of these lesions, benign cystic abdominal masses in children are not so uncommon and should be considered as causes of acute abdominal pain. The differential diagnosis is not always possible preoperatively. In our series, radical excision of the lesions was possible in all cases, allowing reliable histological results and avoiding recurrences.
Highlights
Benign intra-abdominal cystic masses in infancy and childhood are uncommon and their etiopathogenesis, histology, localization and clinical presentation differ significantly; this could generate diagnostic dilemmas and consequent therapeutic delay.As cystic mass we considered a newlyformed closed cavity with liquid or semisol-Key words: Cystic abdominal masses; hepatic hamartoma; hepatobiliary cystadenoma; lymphangioma.Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina id contents and an epithelial lining, while Margherita Children’s Hospital, Torino, fluid-filled masses that lack an epithelial Contributions: the authors contributed .Italy lining were intended as cyst-like.[1]
Choice for initial evaluation, but CT-scan or tadenomas that may occasionally occur in MRI are subsequently used for confirma- male patients as well.[6] tion and further characterization of the
Nomas have been increasingly reported in tionally classified by location and Understanding the typical radiological literature
Summary
Benign intra-abdominal cystic masses in infancy and childhood are uncommon and their etiopathogenesis, histology, localization and clinical presentation differ significantly; this could generate diagnostic dilemmas and consequent therapeutic delay.As cystic mass we considered a newlyformed closed cavity with liquid or semisol-Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina id contents and an epithelial lining, while Margherita Children’s Hospital, Torino, fluid-filled masses that lack an epithelial Contributions: the authors contributed .Italy lining were intended as cyst-like.[1]. Benign intra-abdominal cystic masses in infancy and childhood are uncommon and their etiopathogenesis, histology, localization and clinical presentation differ significantly; this could generate diagnostic dilemmas and consequent therapeutic delay. As cystic mass we considered a newlyformed closed cavity with liquid or semisol-. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina id contents and an epithelial lining, while Margherita Children’s Hospital, Torino, fluid-filled masses that lack an epithelial Contributions: the authors contributed . Lining were intended as cyst-like.[1] Here we describe 5 patients affected by cystic intra-abdominal masses surgically
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