title: Large presacral tailgut cyst with a carcinoid tumor in a male: report of a case.
abstract: Tailgut cysts are developmental hamartomas found in the presacral space. They are usually detected incidentally during physical examinations or imaging studies. However, they may cause symptoms due to compression of nearby organs. Due to their potential malignant transformation, surgical resection is warranted, while routine biopsy is considered controversial because of the concern about infection of the tailgut cyst and needle-track implantation of malignant cells. The co-existence of a carcinoid in a tailgut cyst is extremely rare. Only 16 cases have been reported previously, the vast majority of which were found in females. We herein present the case of a carcinoid in a tailgut cyst found in a male patient, discuss the potential pathogenesis of tailgut carcinoids, and underline the fact that their previous consideration of the condition as a female-restricted entity should be rejected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Heraklion University Hospital, P.O. Box 1352, 71110, Heraklion, Greece, vcharalambakis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Charalampakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stamatiou
authors.forename: Manousos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christodoulakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kafousi
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chryssou
authors.forename: Eelco
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Bree
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melissas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery