Thoracic duct cysts: A rare differential diagnosis

Abstract

In the case of left supraclavicular masses, the rare differential diagnosis of a thoracic duct cyst must be considered as a possibility. Sonography as the imaging method of choice is sufficient for primary diagnosis. In addition, a thorax x-ray should be performed in order to exclude an intrathoracic involvement. Surgical extirpation marks the therapy of choice in treating such cysts.

A Giant Thoracic Duct Cyst as the Cause of Abdomen Pain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…5,7) Other causes these duct lesions are iatrogenic injuries and blunt traumas. 10) For example, a 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with a cervical thoracic duct cyst after the whiplash injury in a traffic accident 3 months previously.…”

“…These were common symptoms because of the pressure on adjacent structures. [6][7][8][9] There was a 42-year-old male patient complaining of sharp left upper quadrant pain occurring 1-2 h after meal, and relieved by milk and bicarbonate of soda. 10) With the help of histodiagnosis after the exploratory thoracotomy, a mediastinal thoracic duct cyst was confirmed.…”

A left-sided asymptomatic supraclavicular cystic mass in a 14-year-old girl

“…A left-side cystic swelling behind the left clavicle is known to have a limited variety of possible causes such as malignant tumours, cystic hygroma, a thoracic duct cyst or atypical lateral cyst of the neck [3,4,7,11]. Apart from these, it is necessary to take into consideration also some more rarely ocurring disorders, such as a synovial cyst.…”

“…The synovial cysts are most commonly encountered the knee (Baker's cysts) and the hip. They are of clinical significance because they may appear to be a periarticular mass causing pains or a limitation of the joint mobility [1,3,8]. The cysts of the shoulder are rare, occurring in the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints.…”

“…They appear in the course of various degenerative or inflammatory arthropathies and are often associated with a rupture of the rotator cuff. They are also typically observed in adult patients [1][2][3]5]. The cysts have a characteristic tendency to recur, often resulting in giant cysts which exert a pressure on the adjacent structures [1,3].…”