Pleuropericardial Cyst: A Review of the Literature

Background: Pleuropericardial cysts (PPCs), account for 5 - 10% of all mediastinal tumours, are rare lesions occurring in approximately 1 in 100000 persons and are usually congenital and rarely acquired. They are detected post-mortem or incidentally on routine chest X-ray (CXR) and in most cases multi detector Computer Tomography is used to confirm the diagnosis. As benign course and clinical latency are characteristic features of such cysts and the occurrence of complications is rare, the majority of them can be left untreated. Methods: The aim of the study is to review the literature regarding PPCs and create a table which summarises all the published cases in order to draw a conclusion about the epidemiology, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to PPCs exclusively. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical manifestation, diagnostic and therapeutic approach in 101 cases of PPCs since the 19 th century Results: Our statistical analysis led to the following results: mean age of initial detection: 48.7 ± 17.2 years, female:male ratio: about 3:2, presence of symptomatology: 37/101 cases, most common location: right cardiophrenic angle (RCPA), most common method of initial detection: CXR in 49/101 cases, mean maximal diameter: 8,3 ± 3 cm. Conclusion: The management of a pleuropericardial cyst should be based on an algorithm in which the cyst’s size, shape and compressibility along with clinical presentation and patient’s fitness and preferences are be taken into consideration. When interventional is required, surgical resection by means of traditional open surgery or minimally invasive methods are considered to be the gold standard and along with percutaneous aspiration are the methods that have mostly been used.