Diffuse esophageal submucosal retention cysts: An autopsy happenstance

The overlying squamous epithelium was intact [Figure 2]a. Interspersed between the cysts was normal submucosal glands [Figure 2]b. The cysts were predominantly lined by double-layered cuboidal epithelium with focal stratification [Figure 2]c and [Figure 2]d or attenuation. [4] The cystic dilatation is related to partial or total obstruction of the ducts, related to motility disturbances, inflammation, keratinization around the duct orifice, or even basal cell hyperplasia. The patient apparently did not have any cyst-related symptoms, since the attention was drawn to her catastrophic cardiovascular manifestations. Since they are often seen at autopsy, therapeutic guidelines are available for symptomatic localized lesions and not diffuse lesions.