title: Ectopic cervical thymus: case report and review of pathogenesis and management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ectopic cervical thymus is a rare anomaly, and 50 per cent of cases occur in children. The aim of this report was to remind clinicians of this rare condition, which is part of the differential diagnosis of a paediatric neck lump.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report together with literature review of the pathogenesis and management of ectopic cervical thymus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ectopic cervical thymus is a rare cause of a benign neck mass, and is thus usually misdiagnosed as lymphadenopathy or neoplasia. We discuss its embryology, aetiology, presentation, histopathology, radiology and management, with reference to the reported case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. farhan099@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D002828:Choristoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D018205:Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis; D013950:Thymus Gland; D016896:Treatment Outcome