ABSTRACT
Background: Mesenteric cysts are rare, benign, fluid-filled tumors that occur in the mesentery, a thin layer of tissue that supports the intestines. The management of mesenteric cysts in children typically involves surgical intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, the clinical presentation and management of mesenteric cysts in children. Material & Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka from July 2016 to June 2022. A total of 18,326 patients admitted in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, hospital records of 55 patients diagnosed with mesenteric cysts were evaluated and included in this study. Results: The prevalence of mesenteric cyst in our study was almost 1 per 333 pediatric surgical admissions. In our study, the mean (± SD) age of the patients was 36.5±13.5 months ranged between 2 days to 12 years. Majority of the patients were male (58.2%). Of the total of 55 patients, 18 patients required emergency surgery and 37 underwent elective surgery. Abdominal pain was the main presenting symptom, present in 52.7% of the patients. Fifteen of the emergency surgery were done on preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis or perforated appendicitis with peritonitis. Majority of patients (76.4%) had multiple numbers of cysts. The cysts were located in the small bowel mesentery in 23 cases, the base of the mesentery having retroperitoneal extension in 18 cases, the transverse mesocolon in 14 cases. Complete cyst excision was done in majority of the patients (65.5%) and complete excision with intestinal resection was required in 19 (34.5%) patients. With a mean follow-up of 9 months, we encountered no recurrences. Some patients are still under follow-up. Conclusion: Mesenteric cysts are usually symptomatic and CT scan is the investigation of choice. Complete surgical excision is the optimal treatment. Prognosis is excellent after complete surgical excision; long-term follow-up is needed due to the possibility of recurrence, even in adulthood. Though mesenteric cysts are a rarity in children in the literature, but it is not so uncommon in our experience.