title: Ectopic thymic tissue presenting as a neck mass in children: a report of 3 cases.
abstract: The presentation of ectopic cervical thymic tissue as an anterior neck mass is rare. We report 3 similar cases in 3 boys-2 who had a thymic cyst and 1 who had an ectopic cervical thymus. We discuss the radiographic presentation on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in these cases. We also review the typical histologic picture; histology is the only way of diagnosing this condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa. meyerestie@mweb.co.za
authors.forename: Estie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Wakisa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mulwafu
authors.forename: Johannes J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001935:Branchioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002828:Choristoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography