A tailgut cyst found accompanying rectal cancer: report of a case

Malignant transformation of tailgut cysts is significantly higher than previously reported: systematic review of cases in the literature

AIM

The best treatment for tailgut cysts has not been firmly established. We report a systematic review of the cases in the available literature in order to provide an evidence base for treatment.

METHOD

A systematic search of articles wholly or partly in English was made of PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar; additional studies were discovered by searching reference lists and contacting authors directly. Search terms 'tailgut cyst', 'tail gut cyst', 'retrorectal hamartoma' and 'retrorectal tumour' were used for case reports or case series; no publication date restrictions were imposed. Only studies with histological confirmation of diagnosis and reporting the age and gender of patients were included. Papers were excluded by consensus between the first two authors.

RESULTS

A total of 196 individual cases were analysed in detail including 51 cases of neoplasia. The overall rate of neoplastic transformation was 26.6%. Although the male:female cyst incidence ratio was 1:4, men over 18 had a significantly greater relative risk of neoplasm at 1.94 (P = 0.0055). Radiological evidence of nodular thickening of the cyst wall significantly increased the relative risk of the presence of cancer (P = 0.0023).

CONCLUSIONS

Current orthodoxy that these are not dangerous embryological remnants is unfounded and may be false. The available data suggest the risk of malignant transformation is high and will apply to any residual tissue after excision. The same rationale behind total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer applies to tailgut cysts. Consequently they should be resected with similar oncological margins.

Tailgut Cyst (Retrorectal Cystic Hamartoma): Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Tailgut cysts are rare congenital lesions arising from remnants of normally regressing postanal primitive gut. They often present in middle-aged women with perirectal symptoms and a retrorectal multicystic mass. These cysts have occasionally shown malignant transformation. We report a case of a tailgut cyst occurring in a 25-year-old African-American female. The differential diagnosis of a retrorectal mass is briefly explored, and the etiology, diagnostic strategy, and surgical approach for tailgut cysts is examined. We also report an extensive literature review to examine clinical characteristics and surgical data for 43 cases of tailgut cysts spanning 16 years.

Perirenal tailgut cyst (cystic hamartoma)

Tailgut cysts are rare congenital multicystic lesions preferentially occurring in the retrorectal space. They are assumed to arise from the remnant of embryonic tailgut and occasionally exhibit malignant transformation. The authors herein describe the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of an unusual perirenal tailgut cyst with an emphasis on its histogenesis and distinction from other intraabdominal cystic lesions.

Tailgut cyst invaded by rectal cancer through an anal fistula: report of a case

Rectal cancer accompanying or developing in a tailgut cyst has been reported. However, there have been no reports of cases such as the present one, a tailgut cyst invaded by a rectal cancer.

Tailgut cyst in a neonate

Tailgut cyst is a rare lesion of developmental origin located in the retrorectal space, which usually presents as a multilocular cystic mass. It is usually found in adults, and neonatal cases are extremely rare. The authors report a tailgut cyst in a neonate that was found by prenatal ultrasonogram, which was like a teratoma in gross appearance.

A carcinoembryonic antigen-secreting adenocarcinoma arising within a retrorectal tailgut cyst: clinicopathological considerations

Retrorectal tailgut cysts (TGC) develop from postanal fetal gut remnants. They have specific radiological and histopathological features that distinguish them from dermoid cysts, enteric duplication cysts, and teratomas. We report a patient with a carcinoembryonic antigen-producing adenocarcinoma arising within a TGC who underwent resection through a combined anterior laparotomy/posterior pelvic approach. Despite complete resection and delayed but complete functional recovery, diffusely metastatic disease was encountered 6 months after resection. Diagnostic, therapeutic, histopathological, and oncological implications of this illustrative case are discussed. It seems possible to use carcinoembryonic antigen measurements for treatment planning and for assessing treatment response for this rare disease. The described outcome also suggests that TGC can develop malignant degeneration and should be resected at the time of diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma arising in a tailgut cyst: report of a case

We report herein the unusual case of a 66-year-old woman found to have adenocarcinoma arising in a tailgut cyst. The patient had been observed for 6 months following the discovery of a presacral cystic mass measuring 10 x 9 cm for which she had refused surgery. The serum tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen, became slightly elevated, and diagnostic imaging distinctly revealed a tumorous lesion with papillary projection into the cyst lumen. The cystic mass was then excised through the transsacral approach. The pathological findings were compatible with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma arising in a tailgut cyst. This entity is extremely rare, and only six cases, including our own, have been reported in the English literature. Early complete excision is advised because it is almost impossible to determine for certain whether presacral cystic masses are benign or malignant prior to surgery.