Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- Part I Fundamentals of CXR interpretation – ‘the basics’
- Part II A–Z Chest Radiology
- Abscess
- Achalasia
- Alveolar microlithiasis
- Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery
- Aortic arch aneurysm
- Aortic rupture
- Asbestos plaques
- Asthma
- Bochdalek hernia
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchocele
- Calcified granulomata
- Carcinoma
- Cardiac aneurysm
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Collapsed lung
- Consolidated lung
- Diaphragmatic hernia – acquired
- Diaphragmatic hernia – congenital
- Embolic disease
- Emphysematous bulla
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Flail chest
- Foregut duplication cyst
- Foreign body – inhaled
- Foreign body – swallowed
- Goitre
- Haemothorax
- Heart failure
- Hiatus hernia
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Incorrectly sited central venous line
- Kartagener syndrome
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
- Lymphoma
- Macleod's syndrome
- Mastectomy
- Mesothelioma
- Metastases
- Neuroenteric cyst
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pancoast tumour
- Pectus excavatum
- Pericardial cyst
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural mass
- Pneumoconiosis
- Pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumothorax
- Poland's syndrome
- Post lobectomy/post pneumonectomy
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
- Sarcoidosis
- Silicosis
- Subphrenic abscess
- Thoracoplasty
- Thymus – malignant thymoma
- Thymus – normal
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella pneumonia
- Wegener's granulomatosis
Neuroenteric cyst
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- Part I Fundamentals of CXR interpretation – ‘the basics’
- Part II A–Z Chest Radiology
- Abscess
- Achalasia
- Alveolar microlithiasis
- Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery
- Aortic arch aneurysm
- Aortic rupture
- Asbestos plaques
- Asthma
- Bochdalek hernia
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchocele
- Calcified granulomata
- Carcinoma
- Cardiac aneurysm
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Collapsed lung
- Consolidated lung
- Diaphragmatic hernia – acquired
- Diaphragmatic hernia – congenital
- Embolic disease
- Emphysematous bulla
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Flail chest
- Foregut duplication cyst
- Foreign body – inhaled
- Foreign body – swallowed
- Goitre
- Haemothorax
- Heart failure
- Hiatus hernia
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Incorrectly sited central venous line
- Kartagener syndrome
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
- Lymphoma
- Macleod's syndrome
- Mastectomy
- Mesothelioma
- Metastases
- Neuroenteric cyst
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pancoast tumour
- Pectus excavatum
- Pericardial cyst
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural mass
- Pneumoconiosis
- Pneumoperitoneum
- Pneumothorax
- Poland's syndrome
- Post lobectomy/post pneumonectomy
- Progressive massive fibrosis
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
- Sarcoidosis
- Silicosis
- Subphrenic abscess
- Thoracoplasty
- Thymus – malignant thymoma
- Thymus – normal
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella pneumonia
- Wegener's granulomatosis
Summary
Characteristics
This is the rarest form of bronchopulmonary foregut malformation.
It represents an incomplete congenital separation of the foregut from the notochord. There is a midline defect through the spine where the meninges communicate with the cyst.
Rarely there is also a direct communication with the oesophagus.
The cyst wall contains both gastrointestinal and neural elements.
They are associated with neurofibromatosis and spinal dysraphism.
Often present in childhood.
Clinical features
May be asymptomatic.
Presentation common in childhood with chest pains.
Dyspnoea and or dysphagia.
Recurrent chest infections.
May be associated neurological abnormalities.
Incidental finding on CXR or spinal imaging.
Radiological features
CXR – posterior mediastinal midline soft tissue mass. There may be an air-fluid level. The mass may be large with smooth and sometimes lobulated margins. A midline spinal defect may be visible.
CT – demonstrates the thin-walled posterior mediastinal cystic structure and its relationship with the spine ± oesophagus.
MRI – this is excellent for characterising the vertebral, spinal cord and meningeal abnormalities involved with the cyst.
Differential diagnosis
Thoracic meningocoele.
Neurogenic tumour.
Lung abscess, especially TB abscess.
Bronchogenic cyst.
Primary lung tumour.
Management
If very small they can be left alone.
Larger cysts are surgically excised. Caution is required when spinal canal and cord are involved with the cyst.
- Type
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- Information
- A-Z of Chest Radiology , pp. 142 - 143Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007