Imaging representation and pathological features of congenital bronchial cyst

Objective To study the imaging representation and pathological features of congenital bronchial cysts. Methods X-ray,CT and histopathological manifestations were retro- spectively reviewed in 9 patients with congenital bronchial cysts. Results There were 5 patients with intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts,3 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts, and 1 patient with ectopic bronchogenic cyst. Of the 9 patients,4 were liquid cysts, 3 air cysts,and 2 multiplepulmonary cysts. Intrapulmonary congenital bronchial cysts were diagnosed always due to infection. There of 5 patients presented with cough,sputum production,1 accompanied by fever.The imaging features were bag included mass, which was characterized by a big bag surrounded by a little soft-tissue, or thin walled cavity, or multiple honeycomb or cystoid circular translucency. Two of 3 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts incidentally discovered on a radiograph obtained for other reasons were almost asymptomatic, 2 presented with dyspnea due to compression of trachea. The imaging features included isolated well-defined round shape or ovoid sofe-tissue mass with isodensity,and mutual compression between the surrounding organs. One patient with ectopic bronchogenic cysts were diagnosed due to cystic mass on chest wall. Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium,gland, cartilage, elastic fiber and smooth muscle were all confirmed by light microscopy. Conclusion The main type of congenitai bronchial cysts is intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts. The imaging feature is bag included mass on CT scan.A lining of respiratory epithelium associated with a wall containing glands,cartilage and smoothmuscle is the histopathologic feature for diagnosing congenital bronchial cysts.The optimal treatment is surgical resection.