title: Laparoscopic Excision of Congenital Hepatic Cysts in the Pediatric Population: A Case Series and Literature Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Congenital hepatic cysts are rare. Surgical excision is indicated for symptoms, complications, and to rule out malignancy. Laparoscopic management in the pediatric population has not been extensively documented. We present a series involving laparoscopic excision of pediatric congenital hepatic cysts and review the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected over 15 years from two pediatric surgeons at three medical centers. Presence of a hepatic cyst excised laparoscopically was the only inclusion criterion. Data were collected on the cyst size, type, pathology, and location, as well as on length of hospital stay, complications, and 1 year recurrence rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients were identified: a 7-week-old male presenting with feeding intolerance due to a hepatic cyst; a 6-year-old male presenting with a hepatic cyst identified by ultrasound during evaluation for appendicitis; a male neonate diagnosed at birth with a left thoracic cyst that communicated through the diaphragm with a hepatic cystic lesion; and a 14-year-old male presenting with a 25 cm × 11 cm hepatic cyst. All lesions were excised laparoscopically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our series is the largest documenting complete laparoscopic excision of congenital solitary hepatic cysts in the pediatric population. Laparoscopic excision is a safe and effective approach for the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital , Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Allison F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.affiliation: 2 Georgetown University School of Medicine , Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Marisa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pulcrano
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital , Washington, District of Columbia.|3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: 3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: 3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: David Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Tsung
authors.affiliation: 3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: 3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.|4 Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital , Washington, District of Columbia.|3 Children's National Health System , Department of Surgery, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: A Alfred
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chahine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male