GASTROENTERIC CYST

Gastroenteric or duplication cysts result from failure of the esophagus to undergo complete vacuolation from its solid state into a hollow tube. Gastrointestinal mucosa lines these lesions.

ULTRASOUND

• Location.
• Midline or posterior mediastinum.
• Right side more common than left side.
• In close contact with the wall of the esophagus.
• Usually no communication between the duplication cyst and esophageal lumen (1).
• Males more common than females.
• Newnhan and co-workers (2) describe a large posterior thoracic mass with large cystic locules separated by thick septations in a 34-week fetus who had normal amniotic fluid, appropriate fetal growth and no associated abnormalities.

ASSOCIATED ANOMALIES

Gastroenteric cysts are usually isolated with no associated anomalies.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

• Bronchogenic cyst.
• Pulmonary sequestration.
• Cystic adenomatoid malformation.

REFERENCES

1. Ross PR, Olmsted MW, Moser RP et.al. Mesenteric and omental cysts: Histologic classification with imaging correlation. Radiology 1987;164:327-332.
2. Newhan JP, Crues JV, Vinstein AL et.al. Sonographic diagnosis of thoracic gastroenteric cyst in utero. Prenat Diagn 1984;4:467-471.