A Rare Cause of Neck Mass in an Adult Woman- Cervical Thymic Cyst - A Case Report

Authors

  • Ana-Silvia Corlan Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania. Author
  • Ioana Golu Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania. Author
  • Melania Balas Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.  Author
  • Mărioara Cornianu County Emergency Hospital “Pius Branzeu”, L.Rebreanu, Nr.156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania. Author
  • Daniela Amzar Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania. Author
  • Ioana Natalia Milos Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania. Author
  • Mihaela Vlad Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/JDCRS/2023(4)141

Keywords:

Cervical Thymic Cyst, Thymo-Pharyngeal Duct, Cervical Ultrasound, Neck Mass

Abstract

Background: Cervical thymic cysts (CTCs) develop from the thymo-pharyngeal duct, representing less than 0.5% of all neck masses. Most of the cases are diagnosed in the first decade of life, being rarely described in adults. The majority of CTCs are located on the left side, the rest develop on the right side or in the midline. The patients present usually with a painless mass, rarely with compressive signs. The mechanisms of CTCs occurrence are still debated, failure of involution of thymopharyngeal duct, arrest in migration or retained thymic tissue during descent, being considered.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 49-year-old woman who presented a left laterocervical mass, with rapid growth over several months. The lump was soft, mobile and painless, no other clinical abnormalities were noticed. The ultrasound described an anechoic nodule of 57/38/63 mm at the inferior pole of the left thyroid lobe, raising the suspicion of a parathyroid cyst or branchial cyst. Contrast-enhanced CT scan confirmed the well-defined, homogeneous cystic lesion of 35/25 mm, located between the trachea and common carotid artery, being delimitated inferiorly by the left brachiocephalic vein. The aspiration of the cyst resulted in 40 ml of water-clear fluid, cytology examination confirmed the absence of thyroid or parathyroid cells. Surgery was performed, the pathological diagnosis confirmed the CTC.

Conclusion: Although the thymic cyst is a very rare cause of a cervical mass in adult, the diagnosis should be kept in mind, based on clinical presentation, ultrasound and CT features, respectively aspirated fluid characteristics. 

Author Biographies

  • Ana-Silvia Corlan, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

    Ana-Silvia Corlan, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

  • Ioana Golu, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

    Ioana Golu, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

  • Melania Balas, Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania. 

    Melania Balas, Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania. 

  • Mărioara Cornianu, County Emergency Hospital “Pius Branzeu”, L.Rebreanu, Nr.156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania.

    Mărioara Cornianu, County Emergency Hospital “Pius Branzeu”, L.Rebreanu, Nr.156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania.

  • Daniela Amzar, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

    Daniela Amzar, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

  • Ioana Natalia Milos, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

    Ioana Natalia Milos, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

  • Mihaela Vlad, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

    Mihaela Vlad, Department VII, Internal Medicine II, Discipline of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E.Murgu Square, Nr.2, Timisoara 300041, Romania.

Downloads

Published

2023-10-26

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 4 (2023): Volume 4 Issue 4

Section

Articles