Bronchogenic cysts with infection in the chest wall skin of a 64-year-old asymptomatic patient: A case report

BACKGROUND: Skin bronchogenic cysts are extremely rare congenital bronchocystic changes caused by the abnormal development of the trachea, bronchial trees or lung buds during the embryonic period. The first case of skin bronchogenic cysts was reported in 1945. Since then, this disease has attracted increasing attention, but due to the low incidence, its pathogenesis is still not clear. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we report another case of skin bronchogenic cysts with infection in a 64-year-old female patient. The patient had no symptoms for more than 60 years until her chest wall was recently found to be swollen, and she felt pain and discomfort. At the same time, secretions were found on the surface of the swelling. Color Doppler ultrasound examination showed abnormal echoes in the soft tissue under the frontal chest wall, suggesting the presence of cysts. Cytological puncture resulted in about 2 mL of pus and showed the presence of more acute inflammatory cells. The final clinical diagnosis was skin cyst with infection, and surgery was carried out. The pathological results obtained after surgery showed that the cystic wall was covered with column-like cilia epithelial cells, and the interstitial structure was partially inundated with inflammatory cells. After a variety of examinations and clinical diagnoses, we finally confirmed that the patient was suffering from bronchogenic cyst. CONCLUSION: This article not only describes the case of an elderly patient with rare skin bronchogenic cysts with infection but also provides a detailed and correct diagnosis and a successful treatment process, which is of great value for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.