Mediastinal neurenteric cysts in children: A case series

Abstract

Background: Foregut duplication cysts associated with vertebral anomalies are referred to as neurenteric cyst. About 30 cases have been reported in the literature so far. Posterior mediastinal neurenteric cysts are very rare and a few studies could be found in the literature even after extensive search. Because of rarity we are prompted to present 7 cases of posterior mediastinal neurenteric cysts to further add on to the literature. Study design: All the details of the patients of neurenteric cysts operated in department of paediatric surgery over a period of 2010-15 were taken from patient case files. Results: There were 7 pateints of neurenteric cyst including 3 males and 4 females with age ranged from 4 months to 8 years. Patients presented with recurrent chest infection along with two case having dysphasia also. In 5 cases there were right sided cysts while two had cyst on left side in posterior mediastinum. In 2 cases the cysts were extending to abdomen while one patient had separate ileal duplication cyst. Another case had mediastinal cyst which was communicating with ileum. All the mediastinal cysts were excised through posterior thoracotomy and subsequently confimed on histolpathology. Conclusion: Neurenteric cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal cysts of paediatric age group. Key words: mediastinal, neurenteric cyst, paediatric.