Benign Cystic Mesothelioma in a Child: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Benign cystic mesothelioma (BCM) is a rare tumor with benign characteristic. There are only 8 child cases reported in the English literature. In this report, we present this rare entity a brief review of the literature.

CASE REPORT: A two year-old boy presenting with abdominal swelling was hospitalized. Physical examination revealed a mass filling the abdomen. Laboratory findings were not specific. Abdominal computerized tomography showed a 15×13×11 cm cystic mass extending from the bladder to the liver with no solid components and no infiltration to adjacent organs. Operation revealed a cystic mass filled with yellow-green serous fluid which was attached to the right lobe of the liver with a 1 cm thick peduncle. Total excision of the mass was performed by clamping and cutting the narrow attachment. Recovery was uneventful. Pathology revealed multiple cysts lined with mesothelial cells. No recurrence was seen after 5 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: BCM should be kept in mind as a rare cause of the abdominal mass in children, as it may lead to confusion in preoperative diagnosis. Although rare, patients should be followed throughout life because of the risk of recurrence and malignant degeneration.