Abstract
Cervical thymic cysts are a rare cause of neck masses in children. This case report describes a three-year-old child with a several-month history of an enlarging neck mass, who was emergently admitted due to airway obstruction. Computed tomography revealed a large cystic mass extending from the oropharynx to the level of the mediastinum. Excision of the mass with pathologic examination revealed a thymic cyst. The clinical picture, the theories regarding development of these cysts, as well as surgical options for treatment, are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Guba
A.M.
,
Adam
A.E.
,
Jacques
D.A.
Cervical presentation of thymic cysts . Am J Surg 1978 ; 136 : 430 –6 .
2.
Tovi
F.
,
Mares
A.J.
The aberrant cervical thymus — embryology, pathology and clinical implications . Am J Surg 1978 ; 136 : 631 –7 .
3.
Zarbo
R.J.
,
McClatchey
K.D.
,
Areen
R.G.
Thymopharyngeal duct cyst: A form of cervical thymus . Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1983 ; 92 : 284 –9 .
4.
Nussbaum
M.
,
Sarin
J.G.
Cervical thymic cyst . Mount Sinai J Med 1982 ; 49 : 27 –8 .
5.
Al-Shihabi
B.M.
,
Jackson
J.M.
Cervical thymic cyst — case report . J Laryngol Otol 1982 ; 96 : 181 –9 .
6.
Sansui
D.I.
,
Carrington
P.R.
,
Adams
D.N.
Cervical thymic cyst . Arch Dermatol 1982 ; 118 : 122 –4 .
7.
Becker
G.D.
,
Ridolfi
R.
Cervical thymic cyst . Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1985 ; 93 : 807 –9 .
8.
Barat
M.
,
Sciubba
J.J.
,
Abramson
A.L.
Cervical thymic cyst: Case report and review of the literature . Laryngoscope 1985 ; 95 : 89 –91 .
9.
Youngson
G.G.
,
Ein
S.H.
,
Geddie
W.R.
Infected thymic cyst: An unusual case of respiratory distress in a child . Ped Pulmon 1987 ; 3 : 276 –9 .
10.
Wagner
C.W.
,
Vincour
C.D.
,
Weintraub
W.H.
Respiratory complications in cervical thymic cysts . J Ped Surg 1988 ; 23 : 657 –60 .
11.
Lyons
T.J.
,
Dickson
J.A.S.
,
Variend
S.
Cervical thymic cysts . J Ped Surg 1989 ; 24 : 241 –3 .
12.
Spigland
N.
,
Bensoussan
A.L.
,
Blanchard
H.
Aberrant cervical thymus in children: Three case reports and review of literature . J Ped Surg 1990 ; 25 : 1196 –9 .
13.
Raines
J.M.
,
Rowe
L.D.
Progressive neonatal airway obstruction secondary to cervical thymic cyst . Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1981 ; 89 : 723 –5 .
14.
Shenoy
P.K.
,
David
V.C.
Cervical thymic cyst — a case record . J Laryngol Otol 1993 ; 107 : 950 –2 .
15.
Marra
S.
,
Hotaling
A.J.
,
Raslan
W.
Cervical thymic cyst . Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995 (February); 112 : 338 –40 .
16.
Miller
M.B.
,
DeVito
M.A.
Cervical thymic cyst . Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995 (April); 112 : 586 –8 .
17.
Rosevear
W.H.
,
Singer
M.I.
Symptomatic cervical thymic cyst in a neonate . Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1981 ; 89 : 738 –41 .
18.
Patten
B.M.
Human Embryology , 3rded. New York , McGraw-Hill , 1968 .
19.
Burkitt
H.G.
,
Young
B.
,
Heath
J.W.
Wheater's Functional Histology , 3rd ed. New York , Churchill Livingstone , 1993 .
20.
Speer
F.D.
Thymic cysts . NY Med Coll Flower Hosp Bull 1938 ; 1 : 142 –50 .
21.
Fahmy
S.
Cervical thymic cysts: Their pathogenesis and relationship to branchial cysts . J Laryngol Otol 1974 ; 86 : 47 –60 .
22.
Ellis
H.A.
Cervical thymic cysts . Brit J Surg 1967 ; 54 : 17 –20 .
23.
Cotran
R.S.
,
Kumar
V.
,
Robbins
S.L.
Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease , 4th ed. New York , WB Saunders , 1989 .
24.
Sternberg
S.S.
Diagnostic Surgical Pathology , 2nd ed. New York , Raven Press , 1994 .
