Gastrointestinal Imaging

Cyst, bronchogenic

congenital cyst probably due to abnormal branching of the tracheobronchial tree during embryonic development. Foregut cysts may be classified as bronchogenic, gastroenteric and neurenteric cysts. Bronchogenic cysts are internally lined by respiratory epithelium. Although most frequently an incidental finding, bronchogenic cyst may rarely cause symptoms due to compression of the oesophagus, which will be visualized on barium studies as deformity and/or displacement of the oesophagus.

On CT bronchogenic cysts appear as round or oval masses with homogeneous attenuation, varying between +10 and +25 Hounsfield units (HU), reflecting their clear fluid contents. However, higher attenuation values may be seen in the case of mucoid content. In addition CT is useful in depicting the topographic relationship between the lesion and the surrounding structures if surgical removal is considered. Also, see cyst bronchogenic and cyst bronchogenic.

ALB