Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of bronchogenic cyst in the adults. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients admitted to our hospital with histopathologically proved bronchogenic cyst from January 1983 to December 2007. Of all the patients

28 were male and 22 were female

with an average age of 36.9 （range

18 to 64） years. The symptoms

location of the cysts

imaging evaluation

surgical treatment manner

and outcome of these patients were analyzed. Results Symptoms were present in 33 of the 50 patients

and cough was the most common symptom. Thirteen patients presented with complications: hemoptysis

infected cyst

dysphagia

paralysis

and hoarseness. The locations of the cysts included the mediastinum （28 cases）

pulmonary parenchyma （12 cases）

hilar area （3 cases）

visceral pleura （1 case）

and some rare locations including the intestinal mesentery （1 case）

retroperitoneum （1 case）

adrenal gland （1 case）

neck （2 cases）

and dura matter of the cervical verte-brae （1 case）. Chest X-ray was performed in 36 patients and computed tomography （CT） was performed in 41 patients. The bronchogenic cyst in CT was characterized as a round

well circumscribed

unilocular mass

with density ranging from that of water to high density （0-50 Hu）. As for treatment

complete resection of the bronchogenic cyst was performed in 47 （94%） patients

subtotal resection was performed in 3 （6%） patients. Open surgery was performed in 45 （90%） patients

and thoracoscopy （video-assisted thoracic surgery） was performed in 5 （10%） paitients. Of the 12 patients with intrapulmonary cyst

11 patients underwent lobectomy and 1 patient underwent wedge resection. Postoperative sequelae occurred in 2 patients

1 with persistent air leakage and 1 with hoarseness. All patients were proved with bronchogenic cyst pathologically. The average follow-up period was 6.5 years （range

4 months to 10 years）

and no late sequelae or recurrence of the cyst occurred. Conclusions The clinical and imaging presentations of bronchogenic cyst in adults are variable. Surgical resection is the best way for diagnosis and treatment. Both open surgery and thoracoscopy are appropriate for the selected candidates.