Bronchogenic cysts are abnormal growths of tissue that form in the mediastinum — the area of your chest cavity that separates your lungs. People with bronchogenic cysts may develop infection, fever and breathing problems — or they may not experience any symptoms at all. Bronchogenic cysts should be removed to reduce the risk of complications.
Bronchogenic cysts are a type of mediastinal tumor. This means they develop in the mediastinum — the part of your chest that contains the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. Bronchogenic cysts are usually small and filled with fluid or mucous.
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Bronchogenic cysts are congenital, meaning people are born with them. Symptoms can emerge at any age; though, most cases are discovered when people are in their 30s or 40s. Statistically, bronchogenic cysts affect slightly more men than women.
These lesions are considered rare. They only make up about 5% to 10% of mediastinal tumors affecting infants and children.
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While bronchogenic cysts aren’t usually cancerous, there is a small chance that they could become malignant (cancerous) over time. Because of this, removal is usually recommended.
In many cases, people with bronchogenic cysts don’t have any symptoms. Generally, symptoms only occur when one or more of the cysts grow large enough to place excess pressure on your airway or esophagus. Issues may also develop if the cysts become infected. Bronchogenic cyst symptoms may include:
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Bronchogenic cysts form during fetal development. However, experts don’t really know what causes them to develop in the first place. They’re not generally associated with chromosomal or genetic conditions.
Often, bronchogenic cysts are discovered during routine imaging tests. Your healthcare provider may use a variety of diagnostic tools depending on your age and unique situation.
During pregnancy, bronchogenic cysts may show up on prenatal ultrasounds. Your healthcare provider will monitor the size and growth of your baby’s cyst using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In children and adults, bronchogenic cysts may be found during routine chest X-rays. If your healthcare provider finds something suspicious, they may request additional tests, including:
Yes, it’s possible. Because bronchogenic cysts share many of the same symptoms as other conditions — including lung abscesses, tuberculosis or cystic teratomas — they may be misdiagnosed.
The most successful and widespread treatment for bronchogenic cysts is complete surgical removal. Fine needle aspiration (a procedure in which a long, thin needle is used to remove the affected cells) is sometimes used as an alternative treatment option. But cysts treated with this method are more likely to come back.
Bronchogenic cysts that are discovered in utero (in the uterus) during pregnancy only require monitoring in most cases. In rare instances, a needle procedure may be used to drain the cyst.
If the bronchogenic cyst isn’t causing serious problems at the time of delivery, then you’ll likely schedule a follow-up consultation with your healthcare provider who worked with you during your pregnancy.
Rarely, if the bronchogenic cyst is interfering with vital organ function, then surgery may be performed in the delivery room. Your baby will be partially delivered so that they are still receiving oxygen through the umbilical cord. This gives your fetal surgeon time to remove the cyst and establish an appropriate airway. Once this is achieved, your baby will be fully delivered.
Babies, children and adults who show no symptoms at birth require long-term follow-up to monitor the size and location of their bronchogenic cysts. Surgical removal is usually recommended. Your healthcare provider may recommend:
Yes. Bronchogenic cysts should be removed whenever they are discovered, regardless of the person’s age. This greatly reduces the life-limiting complications that can arise.
No. Because bronchogenic cysts are formed during fetal development, there is no known way to prevent them.
If you or your baby has been diagnosed with a bronchogenic cyst, your healthcare provider will want to monitor the situation closely. Even small cysts have the potential to grow rapidly. Unless surgical risks are unusually high, bronchogenic cysts should be removed as soon as possible to avoid other, more serious complications.
While bronchogenic cysts aren’t fatal themselves, they can cause life-limiting problems in some cases. This occurs when the cyst grows and places pressure on surrounding structures, negatively affecting your breathing or other vital organ functions. Because bronchogenic cysts can sometimes grow rapidly, surgical removal is almost always recommended.
Anytime you or your baby develop breathing problems, difficulty swallowing or hoarseness that won’t go away, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can run the appropriate tests to determine the root cause of your issue.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Though rare, bronchogenic cysts can cause life-limiting problems in people of all ages. If you’ve been diagnosed with one, it’s best to remove it. Talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options, and ask for resources that can help you make an informed decision regarding your long-term health.
Last reviewed on 11/26/2021.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy