title: Bronchogenic cysts: a persistent dilemma.
abstract: Bronchogenic cysts are congenital lesions of the respiratory tract. Although usually benign, they have the potential to develop complications and can pose a dilemma in diagnosis and treatment. Twenty patients who presented to the Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital over a 10 year period are reported. Symptoms were common (75%) but serious complications were rare (5%). Most cysts were excised completely at thoracotomy with minimal morbidity. The correct diagnosis was established pre-operatively in less than half of the patients. Therefore excision is recommended to confirm the diagnosis, to exclude malignancy and to minimize possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cartmill
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001994:Bronchogenic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies