Neonate with a Large Abdominal Cyst: Case Report and Review

Dr Abhishek D Denge*

*Correspondence to:  Dr Abhishek D Denge, Senior Resident Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri Pune-411018 India.

Copyright

© 2025: Dr. Abhishek D Denge. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: 30 Jan 2025

Published: 05 Feb 2025

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14824217

Abstract

Gastrointestinal duplication is a rare abnormality of the embryological development of the gastrointestinal tract, with an estimated incidence of 1/10,000 in live births and 1/4,500 in neonates and fetuses. It can appear in any portion of the intestinal tract, with the ileum being the most common location. A 5-day-old patient with a prenatal diagnosis of megacolon or mesenteric cyst was diagnosed during antenatal follow-up. A cystic mass attached to the terminal ileum was found approximately 5 cm from the ileo-caecal valve, which was resected and classified as Type 1B intestinal duplication according to the Long classification. Diagnosis is suggested by abdominal X-rays, ultrasonography, and computerized axial tomography scan with contrast studies, but the definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological examination of the surgical specimen.

Key Words: Child; Neonate; Intra-abdominal cyst; Enteric duplication.

Introduction

Fetal intra-abdominal cystic lesions are common and can be detected through prenatal ultrasound or abdominal complaints. In difficult cases, CT and/or MRI can be helpful. Diagnosis should include choledochal, hepatic, ovarian, enteric (duplication), omental, mesenteric (duplication), renal, urachal or splenic cysts, hydronephrosis, urinoma formation, enlarged fetal urinary bladder, and lymphangiomas. Other differentials include a cystic appearing double bubble due to duodenal atresia, meconium pseudocyst, and hydrometrocolpos.

A cystic mass in a girl should first suggest an ovarian cyst, regardless of its location. In both sexes, digestive duplications, urachal and bile duct cysts are common if unicystic, and cystic lymphangioma if multicystic. Non-irradiating fetal MRI enhances diagnostic accuracy and can aid in characterization of the lesion in relation to surrounding anatomic structures. Fetal MRI has been shown to increase diagnostic accuracy for fetuses with abdominal cystic lesions from 51% to 73.4%, correcting the diagnosis or providing more precise information in 26.5% of cases.

In this case, a large antenatal intra-abdominal cystic lesion led to the final diagnosis of a gastrointestinal (enteric) duplication (GED). No laboratory tests or diagnostic procedures are generally necessary for the diagnosis of mesenteric or omental cysts. Ultrasonography is the most useful imaging test, revealing fluid-filled cystic structures with thin internal septa and internal echoes from debris, hemorrhage, or infection.

Figure 1: CT-Scan Coronal and Axial planes of the abdominal cavity

Figure 2. Laparotomy findings

Figure 3. Gross macroscopic specimen

Figure 4. Histological analysis of the wall of the cyst

Case Report

A 2815g 5-day-old male patient was born at 37.5 weeks gestation with an APGAR score of 9-10-10. An ultrasound scan identified an intra-abdominal lesion suggesting a megacolon diagnosis. After birth, further investigations revealed a large extrahepatic unilocular fluid-filled structure measuring 80x30 mm, suggesting a mesenteric cyst, cystic lymphangioma, or composite hepatic hamartoma. A cystic mass attached to the terminal ileum was noted at laparotomy, and the cyst and intestine were closely related. The ileon-cyst complex was resected and end-to-end interrupted primary anastomosis using vicryl 4/0 was performed. The gross pathological specimen showed a 75x10 mm intestinal fragment with ileal mucosa of normal appearance joined to a 80x35cm cystic structure containing mucus without luminal communication. The cyst contained mucus covered by glandular epithelial tissue and shared musculature with the intestinal portion, covered by gastric tissue. The cystic structure shared musculature with the intestinal portion, covered by gastric tissue within normal histological limits. The specimen was classified as Type 1B intestinal duplication according to the Long classification. The patient's post-operative period was uneventful, and at six months, he is thriving well without any complications.

Discussion and Conclusion

GED is a rare congenital anomaly that develops along the intestinal tube, with an estimated incidence of 1/10,000 in live births and 1/4,500 in neonates and fetuses. These anomalies are rare and occur with a frequency of 0.2% in children. They can appear in any portion of the intestinal tract from the neck to the rectum, with the most common site being the ileum. The incidence according to location is 20% in the esophagus, 4% thoraco-abdominal, 7% gastric, 5% duodenal, 44% jejuno-ileal, 15% colonic, and 5% rectal. Of the total, 75% are cystic and 25% tubular. There can be synchronous (multiple) duplications up to 20%, although most report 5-10%.

In 1884, Reginald Fitz introduced the term "intestinal duplication" to describe and explain congenital cystic anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, which he thought were remnants of the omphalomesenteric duct. In 1937, Ladd introduced the term digestive tract duplication (TD) to group congenital anomalies with three characteristics: 1- the presence of a well-developed wall of smooth muscle; 2- Epithelial lining representing some portions of the primary or heterotopic gastrointestinal tract; and 3- Most are attached to some portion of the digestive tract with or without communication to the intestinal lumen.

There is no single embryological theory that satisfactorily explains the origin of all duplications. It is assumed that it may be due to various causes, such as failure of normal regression of the embryogenic diverticulum, traction of the endoderm and overlying structures during early embryogenesis, recanalization errors of epithelial connections within the small intestine, and adherence of the endodermal lining wall of the developing intestine to create a double lumen.

Intestinal duplications are a type of gastrointestinal anomaly that can cause peptic ulcers in unlikely sites such as the ileum and posterior mediastinum. The wall of the duplicated segment is usually complete, with only rarely communicating with the intestinal lumen. Sometimes, the duplication forms an intrinsic part of the intestinal wall with fusion between the muscularis propria of the duplication and that of the normal intestine. The cystic lumen usually does not communicate with the intestinal lumen, and non-communicating cysts mimic the intestinal wall with enteric mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria, and a myenteric plexus. Intramural duplications do not have a muscular layer but share the muscular layer with the adjacent intestine.

The clinical manifestations of intestinal duplications are very nonspecific and depend on the type of duplication, its location, the presence of heterotopic gastric mucosa, and the complications it may cause. Cystic thoraco-enteric duplications are usually extramural and found in the posterior mediastinum, causing respiratory symptoms in infancy and communicating through the diaphragm with the intra-abdominal gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal duplications can present with abdominal pain, palpable mass, intestinal obstruction, melena, and even intussusception. Gastrointestinal bleeding occurs in 34% of cases due to ulceration of the mucosa or by ischemia secondary to extrinsic compression of the normal intestine due to a cystic duplication adjacent. Intestinal obstruction can be due to intussusception, intestinal volvulus, or extrinsic compression from a cystic duplication.

Diagnosis of intestinal duplications is made using chest X-rays, ultrasonography (USG), CT computerized axial tomography, contrasted studies, and diagnostic laparoscopic techniques. In the prenatal period, antenatal ultrasound scan and magnetic resonance imaging can be used for diagnosis. Contrast radiological studies can also be used for differential diagnosis of mesenteric cysts, especially the cystic type. Histological examination is the definitive diagnosis.

The treatment of alimentary tract duplications is surgical, aiming for total resection due to the high risk of recurrence associated with partial excision or puncture. The operation should be elective and performed laparoscopically to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications. The treatment of choice is resection of the intestinal duplication with end-to-end anastomosis. Complications may be related to the size and location of the duplication, its communication with the gastrointestinal tract or vertebral canal, presence of heterotopic gastric mucosa, and involvement of mesenteric vessels. Future challenges include laparoscopically assisted procedures and externalizing the segment to be anastomosed.

Conflict of Interest Statement: None Declared

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