A paraesophageal bronchogenic cyst with esophageal communication

Paraesophageal bronchogenic cysts are a rare developmental anomaly of the u pper digestive tract. Although often asymptomatic, their growth can cause s evere symptoms and complications because of the location. The diagnosis is difficult and is mostly by histopathologic findings after extirpation of th e cyst. The authors present a case of a paraesophageal bronchogenic cyst, o f typical histologic structure (ciliated epithelium and hyaline cartilage) connected with the esophageal lumen by a narrow canal composed of stratifie d squamous epithelium. According to the available literature, only three ca ses of bronchogenic paraesophageal cysts with esophageal communication have been reported.