Management of cervical bronchogenic cyst via minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy: a report of two cases

Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital diseases, which are believed to occur through the separation of small diverticula buds from an abnormal budding process in the primitive foregut during the formation of the tracheobronchial tree. Ectopic types located in the thyroid region are extremely rare. In this study, we present two cases of cervical bronchogenic cysts identified during minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT). The first case involved a 24-year-old male who presented with a persistent neck mass measuring 41 mm in the right cervical region for a duration of 2 weeks. The second case involved a 36-year-old male diagnosed with right papillary thyroid cancer for 2 months. The presence of any additional lesions was not identified prior to surgery. During surgery, the cysts were identified, resembling metastatic lymph nodes or lymphatic tuberculosis. Both cases were diagnosed with bronchogenic cysts with typical pathological features. The patients achieved successful recovery with no recurrence observed during the follow-up period. The morphological characteristics showed both variations and commonalities intraoperatively. This report aims to enhance the awareness of cervical bronchogenic cysts by providing comprehensive insights into the imaging, pathology, and clinical features. Since the lack of trustworthy preoperative diagnosis, we recommend suitable patients to have all suspected bronchogenic cysts removed via surgery, especially complete excision.