Tailgut Cyst: An Uncommonly Diagnosed Common Entity - A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Tailgut cysts (TGC) though relatively common are rarely diagnosed and documented. Most of the times, they are misdiagnosed and mismanaged. When malignancy develops in TGC it is rarely attributed to it as it is undiagnosed earlier and later on there may not be any evidence left behind. We report one such case which was diagnosed though not preoperatively. Review of literature reveals only few such cases after the initial description by Hjermstad and Helwig in 1988. Surprisingly most of the reports especially the larger case series are by radiologists. Surgeons and pathologists have contributed very few cases. This case report is aimed at increasing the awareness about this entity so that it will be suspected, investigated properly and treated before development of complications like recurrent fistulae, ischioanal abscesses which increase the morbidity and life threatening complications like malignant change.