Noncommunicating gastric duplication cyst at the pylorus in a 5-year-old child: a case report

Introduction: Gastric duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies, representing less than 9% of enteric duplication cysts. Most are discovered in infancy, some are asymptomatic, and others present with abdominal pain, gastric outlet obstruction, or a palpable mass. The best treatment is early surgical resection. Case presentation: We present a 5-year-old female with a history of persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, early satiety, weight loss, and palpable epigastric mass. Imaging revealed a cystic lesion obstructing the gastric outlet, consistent with a gastric duplication cyst. An exploratory laparotomy was done. The patient recovered, and histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis. Discussion: Most gastric duplication cysts are noncommunicating cysts. Diagnosis is confirmed through imaging and histology. Surgical excision, when performed early, offers an excellent prognosis as a small percentage of cysts differentiate into malignancies. Conclusion: Gastric duplication cysts are very rare, and diagnosis may be missed or delayed due to nonspecific symptoms that may overlap with gastrointestinal or urinary pathologies. A high index of suspicion is necessary in patients with persistent vomiting and abdominal pain for early diagnosis and excision.