Cervicomediastinal Thymic Cyst: Report of a Case

Abstract

Congenital thymic cysts are rare. Consequently, they are often misdiagnosed and not included in the preoperative differential diagnosis of neck masses. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy with a large cervicomediastinal thymic cyst to increase the awareness of this unusual entity. We discuss the clinical features, presentation, and pathogenesis of thymic cysts.

Cisto tímico: uma opção no diagnóstico diferencial das massas cérvico-mediastinais

“…Although thymic cyst is not a frequent diagnosis, the abovementioned male patient in the first decade of life with a left cervical tumor falls within the common features of reports in the literature. It was a cyst lined with foreign body granulomas similar to cholesterol or keratin crystals, which are pathognomonic of thymic cysts; 3 there were no symptoms, as was the case of most patients in Chiba's report. 4 Ultrasound, which raised doubts about the diagnosis, is an examiner-dependent method; care is therefore needed when indicating treatment for rare cases.…”

Huge Fetal Cervicomediastinal Thymic Cyst: Successful Antenatal Intervention for Vaginal Delivery

“…2 If such a cyst is in the cervicomediastinal area, it is difficult to distinguish from other cystic masses, such as lymphangiomas and bronchogenic cysts. 3 They are often diagnosed as a result of the deformity that develops with cyst growth because congenital thymic cysts are asymptomatic. 4 A large cyst can compress the adjacent organs and cause tracheal obstruction and a mediastinal shift.…”