Published online Aug 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i24.8709
Peer-review started: March 10, 2022
First decision: April 10, 2022
Revised: April 23, 2022
Accepted: July 18, 2022
Article in press: July 18, 2022
Published online: August 26, 2022
Processing time: 158 Days and 18.7 Hours
Bronchogenic cysts are congenital cysts caused by abnormal sprouting from the ventral foregut during fetal life. They usually occur in the mediastinum or lung, but there are very rare cases of ectopic bronchogenic cysts that develop in the abdominal cavity. A unique intra-abdominal ectopic bronchogenic cyst with a mucinous neoplasm that was producing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), harboring a GNAS mutation, is reported. The present case may contribute to clarifying the mechanism of tumorigenesis and malignant transformation of ectopic bronchogenic cysts.
In 2007, a man in his 50s was incidentally found to have an intra-abdominal cystic mass, 8 cm in diameter. Surgical resection was recommended, but he preferred to remain under observation. In 2020, his serum CEA level increased to 26.7 ng/mL, and abdominal computed tomography showed a 15 cm × 12 cm, multifocal, cystic mass located predominantly on the lesser curvature of the stomach. Since malignancy could not be ruled out, he finally underwent surgical resection. Histologically, the cystic wall was lined by ciliated columnar epithelium, accompanied by bronchial gland-like tissue, bronchial cartilage, and smooth muscle. Part of the cyst consisted of atypical columnar epithelium with an MIB-1 index of 5% and positive for CEA. Moreover, a GNAS mutation (p.R201C) was detected in the atypical epithelium, leading to a diagnosis of an ectopic bronchogenic cyst with a low-grade mucinous neoplasm. The patient is currently undergoing outpatient follow-up without recurrence.
An extremely rare case of an abdominal bronchogenic cyst with a low-grade mucinous neoplasm harboring a GNAS mutation was reported.
Core Tip: A man in his 60s had an intra-abdominal, 15-cm, multifocal, cystic mass located on the lesser curvature of the stomach, and he underwent surgical resection. Histologically, the resected cystic wall was lined by ciliated columnar epithelium, accompanied by bronchial gland-like tissue, bronchial cartilage, and smooth muscle. Part of the cyst consisted of atypical columnar epithelium with an MIB-1 index of 5% that was positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. Moreover, a GNAS mutation (p.R201C) was detected in the atypical epithelium, leading to a diagnosis of an ectopic bronchogenic cyst with a low-grade mucinous neoplasm.