Spontaneous rupture of a giant intrapericardial bronchogenic cyst.

Bronchogenic cysts arise from an abnormal budding of the ventral diverticulum of the foregut or the tracheobronchial tree during embryogenesis. They are rarely found intrapericardially. Herein, we report the case of a 43-year-old man who presented with a ruptured intrapericardial bronchogenic cyst (IBC), with aggravating symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath. The cyst was completely resected, and the patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful. This is the first report with radiologic evidence of an IBC that ruptured, rapidly releasing cystic liquid into the pericardium and exacerbating the patient's symptoms. These results argue for the complete surgical excision of an IBC at the time of diagnosis, even if the patient is asymptomatic. (C) 2013 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons