title: An atypical site of a retroperitoneal epidermoid cyst in a middle-aged woman.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retroperitoneal cysts are rare, usually asymptomatic, abdominal lesions. Epidermoid cysts developing in this space usually occur in middle-aged women and are incidentally discovered in the presacral region during ultrasound examination. Occasionally, cysts may arise from splenic tissue or adrenal glands and develop above the presacral area.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the unusual location of a cyst in the retroperitoneal space in a 41-year-old woman admitted to hospital due to detection of a lesion in ultrasound imaging. A CT scan confirmed large intra-abdominal cyst. At operation, a large retroperitoneal thin-walled cyst with no evident arising point was discovered. Histologic analysis revealed epidermoid cyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our patient presented with giant retroperitoneal cyst extending from the subhepatic region to the uterine and bladder. To our knowledge, this unusual location in adult has not been previously reported in the literature. In our case the lesion was adjacent to inferior vena cava and mesenteric vessel which required special attention during preparation and was technically demanding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery is the gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal epidermoid cysts. Successful treatment of benign retroperitoneal epidermoid cysts depends on appropriate diagnosis, careful operative technique, and adequate management of the underlying pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Siedlce Hospital, Starowiejska 15, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland. Electronic address: chirurgia.siedlce@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kryspin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitura
authors.forename: Romanczuk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mikolaj
authors.forename: Mitura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alicja