Thymic cyst as a differential diagnosis of a lateral cervical mass: case report and review of literature

Thymic cysts are a rare cause of benign neck mass in adults and are usually diagnosed after surgery. Their prevalence is less than 1% of all cervical masses, and they are generally noted in the first decade. We report a case of a 34 year old female with a lateral cervical mass, describing ultrasound and CT features, intraoperative findings and histopathology. Thymic cysts are uncommon lesions causing neck swelling, often misdiagnosed preoperatively and should be included in the differential diagnosis of cervical cystic masses.

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Cervical Thymic Cyst: A Rare Differential Diagnosis in Lateral Neck Swelling

Case Reports in Otolaryngology ◽

10.1155/2013/350502 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vijendra Shenoy ◽

M. Panduranga Kamath ◽

Mahesh Chandra Hegde ◽

Raghavendra Rao Aroor ◽

Vijetha V. Maller

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Neck Mass ◽

Thymic Cyst ◽

Lateral Neck ◽

Neck Swelling ◽

Thymic Tissue ◽

Neck Masses ◽

Rare Differential Diagnosis ◽

Thymic Cysts ◽

Lateral Neck Swelling

Introduction. Thymic cysts are among the rarest cysts found in the neck. Nests of thymic tissue may be found anywhere along the descent of the thymic primordia from the angle of the mandible to the mediastinum. Mediastinal extension is seen in 50% of cervical thymic cysts.Case Report. We report an uncommon case of a 15-year-old male, who noted a painless, growing mass on left side of his neck of one-year duration. Computerised tomographic scan showed a multiloculated fluid density lesion with enhancing septae in the left parapharyngeal space, extending from the level of mandible up to C7 vertebral level. Here, we discuss the surgical aspect, histopathology, and management of this rare lateral neck swelling.Discussion. Clinically, in most cases, cervical thymic lesions present as a unilateral asymptomatic neck mass, commonly on the left side of the neck, and 75% of patients present before 20 years of age.Conclusion. Thymic cyst should be included as differential diagnosis of cystic neck masses. Greater awareness among the pathologists may decrease misdiagnosis.

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Extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma presenting as a neck mass - case report

ORL ro ◽

10.26416/orl.35.2.2017.795 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (35) ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Daniel Mirea ◽

Loredana Mitran ◽

Daniela Safta ◽

Cornelia Niţipir ◽

Bogdan Mocanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Ewing’S Sarcoma ◽

Ewing's Sarcoma ◽

Neck Mass ◽

Extraskeletal Ewing’S Sarcoma ◽

Mass Case

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Histoplasmosis neck mass – Case report and literature review a diagnostic dilemma

Otolaryngology Case Reports ◽

10.1016/j.xocr.2021.100261 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 100261

Author(s):

A.G. Thangirala ◽

D. Chelius ◽

G. Holzmann-Pazgal ◽

E.M. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Literature Review ◽

Neck Mass ◽

Diagnostic Dilemma ◽

Mass Case

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Ectopic thymus presenting as a solid submandibular neck mass in an infant: case report and review of literature

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0165-5876(99)00198-6 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 241-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Ashutosh Kacker ◽

Max April ◽

Cara Beth Markentel ◽

Frank Breuer

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Neck Mass ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Ectopic Thymus ◽

Infant Case

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Extensive parapharyngeal and skull base neuroglial ectopia; a challenge for differential diagnosis and treatment: case report

Sao Paulo Medical Journal ◽

10.1590/s1516-31802010000500011 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 128 (5) ◽

pp. 302-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Giulianno Molina de Melo ◽

Gabrielle do Nascimento Holanda Gonçalves ◽

Ricardo Antenor de Souza e Souza ◽

Danilo Anunciatto Sguillar

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Case Report ◽

Skull Base ◽

Infratemporal Fossa ◽

Newborn Infants ◽

Surgical Excision ◽

Neck Mass ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Feeding Difficulties ◽

Complete Surgical Excision

CONTEXT: Neuroglial ectopia has been defined as a mass composed of differentiated neuroectodermal tissue isolated from the spinal canal or cranial cavity and remains rare. This lesion has to be considered in the differential diagnosis among newborn infants with classical symptoms of respiratory distress, neck mass and feeding difficulties. We present a rare case of extensive parapharyngeal and skull base neuroglial ectopia in 6-month-old girl who presented respiratory and feeding obstruction at birth. CASE REPORT: A six-month-old girl who presented upper respiratory and feeding obstruction at birth and was using tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes was referred to our institution. Complete surgical excision of the mass consisted of a transcervical-transparotid approach with extension to the infratemporal fossa by means of a lateral transzygomatic incision, allowing preservation of all vital neurovascular structures. The anatomopathological examination showed a solid mass with nests of neural tissue, with some neurons embedded in poorly encapsulated fibrovascular stroma, without mitotic areas, and with presence of functioning choroid plexus in the immunohistochemistry assay. Neurovascular function was preserved, thus allowing postoperative decannulation and oral feeding. Despite the large size of the mass, the child has completed one year and six months of follow-up without complications or recurrence. Neuroglial ectopia needs to be considered in diagnosing airway obstruction among newborns. Surgical treatment is the best choice and should be performed on clinically stable patients. An algorithm to guide the differential diagnosis and improve the treatment was proposed.

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