Laparoscopic approach to tailgut cyst (retrorectal cystic hamartoma)

Retrorectal cystic hamartomas, or tailgut cysts, are complex congenital cystic lesions which arise from embryologic tissues. Fewer than 200 cases have been reported worldwide, with women outnumbering men by 3:1. They are asymptomatic in 50% of the cases; the remainder present with back pain or mass...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martín Gascón Hove, Jorge Martín Gil, Teresa Sánchez Rodríguez, Ángel Ferrero Lomas, Jesús Peraza Casajús, Antonio López-Farré, José de Jaime Guijarro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Minimal Access Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalofmas.com/article.asp?issn=0972-9941;year=2019;volume=15;issue=3;spage=262;epage=264;aulast=Hove
Description
Summary:Retrorectal cystic hamartomas, or tailgut cysts, are complex congenital cystic lesions which arise from embryologic tissues. Fewer than 200 cases have been reported worldwide, with women outnumbering men by 3:1. They are asymptomatic in 50% of the cases; the remainder present with back pain or mass effect as the most common symptoms. Malignant transformation rarely occurs. Guided biopsy is controversial, while surgery is the therapy of choice. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman complaining about perineal and vague lower abdominal pain, who was submitted to magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed a multilocular cystic, well-circumscribed retrorectal mass. Subsequently, laparoscopic excision was successfully accomplished. Operative time was 175 min. Intra- and post-operative course was uneventful. Hospital stay was 75 h. While any malignancy suspicion should lead to open surgery, given the risk of rupture, we support the benefits of laparoscopy may also be applied.
ISSN:0972-9941
1998-3921