Objective: All cases of bronchogenic cysts treated in our center are analysed in order to define its clinical and pathological features. These data are used to determine whether surgical treatment in all cases is justified or whether there is a place for conservative treatment.
Methods: We retrospectively studied the medical records and pathology reports of all patients with bronchogenic cysts (n = 20) referred to our clinic between 1975 and 1993.
Results: Fourteen patients (70%) were asymptomatic. Six patients had symptoms because of cyst-related complications (infection or compression). In only 15 patients the diagnosis was established preoperatively. In the other five cases a solid tumour was suspected. All patients were treated by either thoracotomy (n = 19) or thoracoscopy (n = 1). The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. One cyst turned out to be degenerated into a squamous cell carcinoma.
Conclusions: We conclude that both the risk of developing cyst-related complications and the even smaller risk of malignant degeneration justify surgical treatment in all cases.