Ectopic cervical thymus: case report and review of pathogenesis and management

Abstract

Ectopic cervical thymus should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a paediatric neck lump. The diagnosis can often be confirmed by cytology and radiology prior to surgical excision.

Prevalence of Ectopic Intrathyroidal Thymus in Japan: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

“…Eventually, thymic remnants can be located anywhere along the developmental pathway of thymic descent including inside the thyroid (15)(16)(17). Ectopic intrathyroidal thymus has been previously reported as an incidental finding.…”

Residual Cervical Thymus: A Normal CT Finding That May Be Present Throughout Patients' Lives

“…Residual cells along this pathway may develop into ectopic foci of thymic tissue. 13,14 These ectopic foci can appear anywhere along the line from the angle of the mandible to the thyroid gland. 15 Ectopic thymic tissue is more common in males and is usually on the left side.…”

US of Pediatric Superficial Masses of the Head and Neck

“…Branchial sinuses are incomplete tracts that usually open up externally; branchial fistulas will communicate both externally and internally, because they represent failure of both the branchial cleft and branchial pouch to involute. Of the branchial cleft anomalies, a second BCC is the most common, for which the differential diagnosis includes lymphatic malformation, cervical thymic cyst, infrahyoid TDC, cysticnecrotic adenopathy, abscess, and carotid space schwannoma (6,34,45,46). Unlike the median or paramedian location of TDCs, BCCs manifest as a fluctuant painless mass found in the lateral part of the neck, usually in childhood or late adolescence.…”