Subcutaneous bronchogenic cyst of the chest wall: A case report with brief literature review

INTRODUCTION: Bronchogenic cysts are congenital lesions found in the mediastinum, particularly the posterior-superior area. The current study aims to report a rare case of a subcutaneous bronchogenic cyst in the chest wall. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old patient presented with a swelling of the chest wall. The mass had been present since birth. On examination, there was a large soft, round mass over the sternum subcutaneously. It was a fixed, non-flatulence, non-pulsatile, and non-tender mass. DISCUSSION: Usually, the condition develops between the fifth and sixteenth weeks of gestation, when the primordial intestine separates into two parts: dorsal, which gives rise to the esophagus, and ventral, which gives rise to the pulmonary bud and tracheobronchial tree. As a result, the cyst is an ectopic lung bud that may or may not be connected to the tracheobronchial tree but lacks mesenchymal tissue. CONCLUSION: Although chest wall bronchogenic cysts are uncommon, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic and soft tissue lesions in adults with chest wall swelling.