We retrospectively analysed hospital records of 48 patients who were operated in our clinic for diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst from 1986 to 2000. Twenty-seven male (56%) and 21 female (44%) patients, ages ranged 3 to 67 years old (mean 27.4). Cysts were within lung parenchyma in 30 (62.5%) patients and mediastinal in 18 (37.5%). Cough (17 patients) and chest pain (16 patients) were the most common symptoms. Ten patients (21%) were asymptomatic, 5 were in mediastinal group and the other 5 were intraparenchymal. Diameters of the cysts were between 3 and 11 centimeters. Eighteen patients with intraparenchymal cysts had lobectomy, 10 underwent segmental resections and 2 underwent wedge resections. Cysts located in mediastinum were excised simply. In 3 of them, since the cyst walls were in connection with trachea, after excision of cysts tracheal walls were repaired. Empyema (1 case), prolonged air leaks (1 case) and atelectasis (1 case) were postoperative complications. Thirty-two of the patients could be followed between 3 months and 6 years (mean 33 months) and long-term complication and relapse were not seen.

Bronchogenic cysts should be resected surgically in order to reach definitive diagnosis and to prevent malignant degeneration and complications.