Background

Gastric duplication cyst is a rare congenital anomaly. These cysts are usually lined with gastric mucosa and have all the layers of the stomach. In addition, it may or may not communicate with the organ of origin. Moreover, a gastric duplication cyst is usually located in close proximity to the stomach. Retroperitoneal gastric duplication cyst mimicking renal or adrenal cysts are rarely reported in the literature [1,2,3]. Therefore, we are reporting our case in addition to literature review on enteric duplications with focus on retroperitoneal gastric duplication.

Case presentation

A 2-year-old girl was referred to our service for evaluation of a renal cyst. The cyst was first noted in the antenatal scan, which was confirmed later in a post-natal scan. The cyst initially measured 4.4 cm. At the age of two, she presented with bouts of abdominal pain. Her clinical examination was unremarkable and her laboratory workup was normal apart from mild anemia. An abdominal CT-scan was done which showed a left supra-renal cyst, measuring 5.4 × 5.4 × 4.8 cm. It was in the superior pole of the left kidney, abutting the pancreas, and the medial aspect of the spleen (Fig. 1). The impression was of a benign adrenal cyst, and she was booked for laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Fig. 1
figure 1

A contrast enhanced image from a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest and abdomen

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The intra-operative findings were of a left adrenal cyst attached to the tail of the pancreas, splenic vessels, and the posterior wall of the abdomen. The cyst was resected and sent for histopathological evaluation (Fig. 2). The intra-operative and post-operative periods were uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the first day post-operation.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Gastric duplication cyst specimen

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The specimen revealed a cyst wall composed of all four layers of the stomach including specialized gastric mucosa, sub-mucosa, muscularis propria, and adventitia. There was patchy chronic inflammation, fibrosis, erosion, and thinning of the wall. No adrenal or renal tissues were identified and no other endodermal or ectodermal derivatives were seen. There was no evidence of malignancy (Fig. 3). The final histopathological diagnosis was consistent with a gastric duplication cyst. On follow-up, she was doing well and pain-free.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of cyst wall showing all four stomach layers including; lining of specialized gastric mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria (both inner circular# and outer longitudinal**) and adventitia [× 100]

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Discussion

Enteric duplication (ED) cyst are rare congenital anomalies. This diagnostic entity was first described in 1733 by Calder [4]. The incidence of this condition is not accurately known, but it has been reported to be 1 in 4500 autopsy series [4]. W. E. Ladd published in 1937 an article to universally apply the term Duplications of the Alimentary Tract, i.e., enteric duplications, for any congenital lesion if it is lined with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) epithelium, covered with a smooth muscle layer and its anatomical location is near an organ of the GIT [4, 5]. However, the current literature data did provide some exceptions with a logical explanation found in relation to embryogenesis and organogenesis. For example, gastric duplications cyst might be lined with respiratory epithelium, in view of the fact that gastric epithelium and lower respiratory epithelium are the differentiation of the foregut endoderm [6].

The basis of ED development is not yet factualized, but there are few explanative theories. The split notochord concept is by far the most acknowledged. Incomplete twinning, phylogenetic reversal, persistent embryonic diverticula, entrapment of endodermal cells or persistent epithelial buds within the body wall and dysvacuolation are other theories that have been suggested [7].

Duplications can be cystic, tubular, or mixed. The tubular form is rare and forms only 10% of all ED [8]. It can have foregut, midgut, or hindgut origin. The location according to the literature may be from the oral cavity to the anus [4, 5]. The ileal origin is the most common. Five of the largest case series of enteric duplication cysts were reviewed and the organ of origin in terms of frequency was as follows: ileal, colonic, gastric, duodenal, esophageal followed by others [5, 9,10,11,12].

Most case series show that males are predominantly affected [4, 9, 11]. Patients may be asymptomatic and if they exhibit symptoms it is usually before the age of 2 years [4]. They have variable clinical presentations depending on the type of duplication, shape, location, communication to GIT, and presence of ectopic tissues. The variability is wide clinically and radiologically, which can be confused with other GIT pathology; thus, a high index of suspicion should be present. They may present with abdominal pain, abdominal mass, obstruction, perforation, rectal bleeding, melena, or the clinical presentation may be specific to the location. For example, thoracic duplication cyst may present with pneumonia, respiratory obstruction, aspiration, or cough. With duodenal duplication cyst, jaundice could be a presenting symptom. Further, bowel duplications cyst may present with intussusception or volvulus [5, 10].

In enteric duplication patient, the associated congenital anomalies reported to reach up to 50% [4]. Moreover, skeletal anomalies frequently found in foregut duplication patient whereas gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts malformation were noted more commonly in patient with midgut and hindgut duplication. Nevertheless, vertebra anomalies are the most common anomalies found overall [4, 13].

Duplications are diagnosed based on imaging findings, starting with ultrasonography then followed by CT-scan for more detailed anatomical correlation. If there is suspicion of tubular lesion then CT-scan is preferred on those cases. Other imaging studies can be used on case to case basis, such as MRI, fluoroscopy, or others [14]. Pre-natal diagnosis has been reported in the literature using ultrasonography, but post-natal diagnosis is the usual norm [15]. Cystic lesion is described as anechoic cyst, with gut signature sign denotating a multi-layeredwall with echogenic internal mucosa layer and hypoechoic external muscular layer. Though, the real-time image provided by the sonographic scan can elicit peristalsis of the cyst unlike other imaging modalities; however, its diagnostic property is operator dependent [16].

Endoscopic procedure utilization has been reported in the literature for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, the current evidence is in favor of utilizing it for non-intervention-based diagnoses such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or endoscopic ultrasonography. Interventional procedures such as fine-needle aspiration of the cyst endoscopically are not advisable because of the infective complication. As for its therapeutic use, there is no strong evidence to supports its routine use in terms of efficacy and safety nor its outcome-basedsuperiority to surgery. Though, this line of management can be considered once surgery is not an option [17, 18].

In asymptomatic patients with incidental diagnosis, the management options are either to observe or to surgically resect the lesion. However, there is no consensus and both options have been advocated in the literature.

In symptomatic patients, complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. The basic goal is to alleviate the symptoms while providing the best outcome to the patient. Therefore, partial excision with mucosectomy and internal drainage have been advocated also when complete excision is not possible, to obtain a desirable outcome without compromising the patients’ quality of life [18, 19].

Our duplication case was diagnosed histologically to be of gastric origin, and these are known to be cystic in nature. They have female predominance (8:1), and they are most commonly diagnosed within the first 3 months of life. The distal greater curvature duplication has the highest occurrence, and they are more commonly non-communicating type [20]. Gastric duplication cyst (GDC) can be intra-peritoneal or retroperitoneal [1]. GDC can present with different clinical manifestations, often with abdominal mass, gastrointestinal obstruction, and anemia, especially in the initial first year of life. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a less frequent presentation and hematemesis is a rare presentation. As the child grows, abdominal pain becomes more common, and it can be due to many causes including ulceration of the cyst, rupture, infection, over distention of the cyst, or due to secondary pancreatitis [21, 22].

Retroperitoneal duplication is rare and only few cases have been reported. The majority have been diagnosed prenatally or postnatally with ultrasonography. Many were asymptomatic. If not diagnosed early, then chronic dull abdominal pain or obstructive compression maybe their clinical manifestation. Another unusual presentation has been described if the cyst fistulizes to another organ [1, 2, 23]. Radiographic imaging has a key role in diagnosing GDC, namely ultrasonography and CT-scan. Moreover, technetium T99 scan can be used to detect ectopic gastric mucosa in those cysts to aid the diagnosis [24].

Surgical resection can be performed via open or laparoscopic approach. Recently, robotic-assisted resection of GDC has been reported [25]. Trans-peritoneal and extra-peritoneal approach can be used for resection of retroperitoneal GDC. Surgeon experience, hospital setting, cyst anatomic co-relation, patient status, and preference all play a role in choosing the approach. However, minimal access surgery should be considered first because of its superior clinical outcome with reasonable theoretical explanation. In addition, laparoscopy has a diagnostic benefit that can be of help in doubtful cases [2, 3].

Conclusion

In conclusion, enteric duplication is a challenging diagnostic entity with numerous presentations and manifestation requiring different diagnostic approaches personalized case to case. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and laparoscopy is the approach of choice. However, pre-operative planning is necessary to avoid unexpectable obstacles and to ensure better outcome. Retroperitoneal gastric duplication is no different.