A Case of Ciliated Hepatic Foregut Cyst Discovered by Chance in Elderly Patient with Cholecystitis and Cholangitis

ABSTRACT

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare disease that originates from the tracheobronchial tree of the foregut. Most patients with CHFC, which is believed to be a non-malignant neoplasm, are clinically asymptomatic. However, there have been some case reports that identify it as changing to malignant in the last decade of the condition. Surgical excision is, therefore, preferred to observation as the treatment of CHFC. However, surgical excision of CHFC in asymptomatic elderly patients is controversial. We experienced a rare case of a 73-year-old female patient who was accidentally diagnosed with CHFC while being diagnosed for cholecystitis and cholangitis. The patient simultaneously underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and resection of CHFC, which was finally diagnosed as benign. We report asymptomatic CHFC in elderly patient, focusing our discussion on whether surgical excision of CHFC is necessary for asymptomatic elderly patients. According to a review of case reports, surgical excision of CHFC is not necessary for asymptomatic elderly patients.