Large retroperitoneal cysts in children and adolescents.

Retroperitoneal cysts may be divided into those of urogenital origin: pronephric, mesonephric, metanephric and müllerian; mesocolic; teratoma; lymphatic; parasitic, and traumatic blood cysts. Müllerian cysts are thought to originate from the specialized mesothelial cells of the genital ridge and present as fimbrial cysts or broad ligament wolffian cysts. Symptoms may be absent, or the result of pressure or displacement of an organ. Diagnosis is made by x-ray studies, sonographic evaluation and, frequently, at operation. We report a case of a 14-pound cyst arising from the right broad ligament and partially obstructing the right ureter that was removed surgically.