Abstract / Summary
Abstract Background: Gastric bronchogenic cyst (GBC) is a rare congenital foregut anomaly, typically located near the gastric fundus or cardia. Due to its nonspecific clinical and imaging features, preoperative diagnosis is challenging, and it is often misdiagnosed as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) or other submucosal lesions, especially when imaging reveals a solid-appearing or atypical cystic mass. Case presentation: A 42-year-old asymptomatic woman was incidentally found to have a cystic mass adjacent to the gastric cardia. Enhanced CT and MRI revealed a well-defined, approximately 3.0 cm × 2.2 cm lesion with no significant enhancement. Endoscopy showed a smooth-surfaced submucosal elevation. The patient underwent successful laparoscopic complete resection, with careful dissection to preserve the gastric muscular layer and maintain cyst integrity. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of GBC, characterized by a cyst wall lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient recovered well with no recurrence at the 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion: GBC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a well-defined, non-enhancing cystic mass near the gastric cardia, particularly when it mimics a GIST. Laparoscopic complete resection is a safe and effective approach that enables both definitive diagnosis and curative treatment, with favorable short-term outcomes.