Foregut cystic developmental malformation: New taxonomy and classification - Unifying embryopathological concepts

Abstract

Foregut cystic developmental malformations are rare developmental anomalies. The problems inherent to these malformations are their presentation across specialties that include embryology, anatomy, pathology, thoracic foregut surgery, pediatric surgery and general abdominal surgery. The direct consequence of this variation has resulted in diverse terminology, classification and a failure to identify the correlation. The article aims to summarize and unify the embryological concepts of foregut cystic malformation, to suggest a generic title to the various groups of these interrelated disorders and a uniform use of nomenclature on the basis of unifying concepts of embryopathogeneis.

Isolated Enteric Cyst in the Neck

“…Out of these, only the last four contain muscle in their walls and are lined by ciliated epithelium [1, 3]. …”

“…These can migrate to different regions of the body. Only few cases outside the posterior mediastinum, which is the most common location, have been reported [1]. Four cases of abdominal, one in the testis, and one in the dorsal scapular region are described in literature [1, 2, 4].…”

“…Endodermal cyst which is not connected to the nervous system or associated with vertebral abnormalities is called isolated enteric cyst [1]. Only one case of subcutaneous location of isolated enteric cyst has been reported in dorsal scapular region [2].…”

Cystic Lesions of the Mediastinum

“…Historically, cysts of foregut origin have been classified into bronchogenic cyst, esophageal duplication cyst, and enteric cyst. While newer classification schemes have been proposed to address problems with this historical nomenclature, they are beyond the scope of this review [11].…”

Communicating esophageal tubular duplication in a newborn infant

“…Duplications may occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus and are believed to have a similar embryologic origin [1]. In 1937, Ladd and Gross [2] suggested that the criteria for a duplication area structure(s) attached or adhered to some part of the alimentary tract and is lined by mucous membrane similar to that part of the alimentary tract and possesses an outer smooth muscle coat.…”