Introduction:
Mesenteric and omental mesothelial cysts are rare, accounting for only 1 in 100,000 hospital admissions for abdominal pain (Tan Jane et al., 2009) [1]. They are often discovered only on CT imaging, which is frequently non-definitive in identifying an exact tissue source owing to overlapping radiographic features with other masses (Stoupis et al., 1994) [2]. The symptoms manifested by such masses are also nonspecific, favoring consideration of more frequently encountered problems in the scope of general surgery over cystic masses in the differential diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis of a mesothelial cyst in this case was made on histopathologic examination of a surgically resected specimen. This case is reported in line with SCARE criteria (Dragoslav et al., 2007) [6].
Presentation of case:
A 41 year-old male patient presented to an academic teaching hospital with several days of abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. Initial workup was unremarkable, save for abdominal CT revealing a central mesenteric focus of inflammation. Neuroendocrine tumor was excluded by normal serum octreotide, 5-HIAA, and chromogranin A. A 4×2cm mass was identified and resected on laparoscopy. Histopathologic diagnosis of the specimen was infarcted mesothelial cyst. The patient reported resolution of symptoms and remains well on most recent follow-up.
Discussion:
The rapid diagnosis of intra-abdominal cystic masses is obscured by their rarity, nonspecific symptomatology, and radiographic features that overlap among such masses (Stoupis et al., 1994) [2]. The etiology of symptoms is likely owed to local mass effect exerted by the cyst on surrounding tissues. Continued resolution of symptoms on resection of such a cyst supports this conclusion.
Conclusion:
imaging following an overall unremarkable physical and laboratory workup for this patient's abdominal pain directed our further workup and management efforts towards surgical excision of an intra-abdominal cystic mass. Histopathologic examination of the cyst was ultimately diagnostic of an infarcted mesothelial cyst.