Laparoscopic surgery of epidermoid cyst of the falciform ligament: A case report

Abstract

Introduction and importance The falciform ligament is a peritoneal fold that extends from the anterior abdominal wall to the liver, which divides the liver into two lobes. Cysts of the falciform ligament are rare and without an apparent cause. The range of the symptoms can vary from abdominal pain to asymptomatic patients. Cysts are treated surgically, and resection is used to make a definitive diagnosis. Case presentation A 36-year-old female patient was treated at an outpatient facility for epigastric pain that lasted for three months. Abdominal MRI and MSCT were performed to verify a cyst formation in the left liver area of about 12 cm in size. Laparoscopic resection of the cist was performed under general endotracheal anaesthesia. Clinical discussion Falciform ligament tumours can be malignant or benign. Treatment of the cyst includes complete excision and pathohistological diagnosis to rule out malignancy. In most cases reported thus far, excision has been done after laparotomy. In our case, the operation was performed in a less invasive way, laparoscopically. Conclusion Laparoscopy can serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic method for cysts of the falciform ligament, both smaller and more significant, that infiltrate the surrounding structures.