Giant idiopathic benign retroperitoneal cyst: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary retroperitoneal cyst formation without connection to adjacent anatomical structures is a rare and benign entity with the majority of these cysts being discovered incidentally. If symptoms develop, they are generally non-specific and related to compression of the adjacent retro-/or intraperitoneal structures. Complete resection of the cyst is curative and therefore the preferred treatment option. We report a case of giant retroperitoneal cyst for which a total surgical removal was performed.

Case report

A 79-year-old female consulted our department with complaints of long lasting abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distension. CT abdomen revealed a giant retroperitoneal cyst (35 cm × 25 cm × 21 cm) without radiological features of malignancy but with severe mass effect on the surrounding intra-abdominal structures. A median laparotomy was performed with a complete excision of cyst. No signs of malignancy or atypia were observed on histological examination.

Conclusion

Idiopathic retroperitoneal cysts can slowly grow to giant proportions and subsequently lead to chronic vague abdominal symptoms. Complete surgical excision is curative and should be pursued.

Keywords:

• Benign retroperitoneal cyst
• giant cyst
• idiopathic cyst

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. No grants or funding have been received.

Ethics committee approval

Ethics committee approval and a written informed consent of the patient for publication of this report and accompanying images obtained.

Authors' contributions

WM and SH: Reviewed literature and wrote the first draft of the manuscript, HB: helped in writing and review the initial draft. JB, JBe, DS reviewed and criticised the article. KVL evaluated the CT images KC evaluated histopathology. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.