Case presentation

We present a case of a 61 year old lady who presented with abdominal pain and bloating of 12 months duration. Her past medical history was unremarkable. Examination revealed mild abdominal distension with a sense of fullness in the right flank. There was mild tenderness to deep palpation. Her full blood count, renal and liver function tests were normal. CT scanning confirmed a large cystic structure in the right side of her abdomen (Figure 1). Initially she was managed conservatively however due to persisting symptoms she was taken for surgical excision.

Figure 1
figure 1

Abdominal CT scan. (Arrows indicate boundaries of cyst).

Full size image

At laparotomy, a 16 × 10 cm thin walled cyst was found attached to the falciform ligament (Figure 2). It contained gelatinous substance. The cyst was completely excised. She made good progress after her operation with complete resolution of her symptoms and she remains well 6 months after surgery.

Figure 2
figure 2

Operative findings: Large cyst arising from the falciform ligament.

Full size image

Discussion

Peritoneal cysts are rare, usually benign tumours that are cystic in nature. They can be located anywhere in the mesentery between the duodenum to the rectum although most are found in the ileal mesentery. The estimated incidence of these lesions is 1:100,000 and 1:20,000 in adults and children respectively [1, 2]. Of the 900 or so published cases only four were found to be malignant [3]. They appear to have no sex predilection. Peritoneal cysts can been classified according to the de Perrot classification [1] based on their cellular origin (1 lymphatic, 2-Mesothelial, 3-enteric, 4-Urogenital, 5-Mature cystic teratoma, 6-Non pancreatic pseudocysts). What makes this particular case interesting is that it arose from the falciform ligament. Such lesions are much rarer with only 12 cases described in the English literature since the first report in 1909 [4].

Peritoneal cysts were first described by Benevenni, an Italian anatomist during a post mortem examination in 1507. In 1880 Tillaux performed the first successful surgical excision of a peritoneal cyst.

Most peritoneal cysts are asymptomatic. Symptoms arise due to the pressure effects exerted by these lesions onto surrounding structures. Commonly these include abdominal pain, distension, constipation and vomiting. Common complications include, rupture, obstruction, infection, torsion or haemorrhage within the cyst [5–8]

The diagnosis of such lesions requires a thorough history, clinical examination and a high index of suspicion coupled with radiographic imaging. The most useful imaging modalities are abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography [9].

Treatment of cysts should be considered in patients who develop symptoms or when cysts cause complications. Treatment options include percutaneous drainage, complete excision or marsupialisation. If bowel is involved, a segmental resection of the affected bowel may need to be performed. Complete excision should be considered the preferred treatment as it prevents recurrence. Partial excision or marsupialisation can result in infection and sinuses and therefore should be reserved for patients whose cysts involve a large proportion of the bowel mesentery. Simple drainage usually results in recurrence of the cyst and should not be performed.

Laparoscopic complete excision has been shown to have the added advantage of a shorter post operative course and fewer complications [3] and should be considered the gold standard of treatment. In our case laparoscopic surgery was not possible due to the size and position of the cyst, it therefore applies to appropriately selected patients.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.