Ectopic thymic cyst in the neck

Abstract

Ectopic thymic tissue in the neck is rarely reported in medical literature. This paper presents the case of a young female, who presented with a soft, fluctuating mass in the left side of her neck. Surgical excision revealed an ectopic thymic cyst. Ectopic thymic tissue may be an infrequent finding, but it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children. This case report is accompanied by a short review of the relative literature.