Latero-cervical Thymic Cyst Diagnosed in Adulthood

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical thymic cysts are a rare, benign and mostly asymptomatic lesions that are usually related to developmental malformations. In adults are extremely unusual and since first described by Lane in 1960, only about 36 cases have been published. Objective: To present a case of latero-cervical thymic cyst diagnosed in adulthood. Clinical case: A healthy 38-year-old female patient with an asymptomatic swelling neck mass of 2 years evolution. On physical examination she presented a right, mobile, not painful and extremely soft cervico-lateral mass of approximately 8 cm. The ultrasonographic characteristics showed an echo-lucent image measuring 14 x 8 cm. A surgical excision was performed and pathology reported a unilocular cervical thymic cyst. Conclusions: This case is a rare one not only because the latero-cervical thymic cyst is an uncommon neck cyst, but also because it is not usually diagnosed in adult women.

Keywords

• cysts
• neck
• thymus gland.