A case of bronchogenic cyst in the esophageal wall

A 73-year-old man with a right aortic arch was admitted because of stridor and dyspnea. We diagnosed a cervico-mediastinal cyst associated with bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Median sternotomy revealed a cystic tumor located in the esophageal wall. Microscopic examination of the resected cyst showed cartilage, smooth muscle and mucous gland, so the final diagnosis was bronchogenic cyst. The bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was caused by chronic pressure from the cyst. Mediastinal cysts should be found and treated as early as possible, because these cysts may sometimes cause fatal complications.