Role of CT in the evaluation of children with foregut cyst

Abstract

The presentation of a foregut cyst may vary from an asymptomatic mass discovered as an incidental finding in a chest radiograph, to signs or symptoms secondary to airway compression by the cyst. The radiographic evaluation of a child with a possible foregut cyst usually consists of a chest radiograph and barium esophagogram. Although this approach is often sufficient, in other instances delay of treatment occurs or unnecessary workups are performed due to the inadequacy of the approach. CT is useful for (a) depicting cryptic foregut cysts, (b) clarifying abnormal radiographs, (c) avoiding unnecessary workup of patients by establishing the precise location of the mass, and (d) defining the cystic nature of the mass and excluding other etiologies.