Tracheal bronchogenic cyst causing cyanosis in a neonate

Abstract

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital malformations of the tracheobronchial tree that are mainly located in the mediastinum or the pulmonary parenchyma. They often occur in early childhood, compressing the airway or the esophagus or by superinfection. Bronchogenic cysts located in the tracheal wall are relatively rare. They present with recurrent episodes of cyanosis, stridor and progressive respiratory distress. The diagnosis is suspected by clinical observation and endoscopic and radiologic evaluation and confirmed by anatomopathological findings. The treatment of choice is the surgical resection of the lesion. We here report the case of a newborn presenting with cyanosis and stridor due to an intramural tracheal bronchogenic cyst that was successfully treated by tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis. We highlight the importance of considering this rare entity in the differential diagnosis of cyanotic spells in this age group.

Keywords

• Bronchogenic cyst
• Intramural trachea
• Neonate