title: Ectopic cervical thymus associated with infant death: 2 case reports and literature review.
abstract: An ectopic cervical thymus is a rare congenital anomaly that can be located anywhere along the developmental pathway of thymic descent. Most lesions manifest as a cystic mass and have an indolent course. Two fatal cases associated with ectopic cervical thymus in the form of a solid mass are presented in conjunction with a review of the clinicopathological characteristics of the solid form. This report emphasizes the importance of considering a diagnosis of ectopic cervical thymus in infants with neck masses, with or without obstructive symptoms, to prevent possibly fatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tokiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyao
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abiru
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osamura
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001344:Autopsy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016684:Prone Position; D035583:Rare Diseases; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*; D016683:Supine Position; D013950:Thymus Gland; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Ectopic cervical thymus; Mechanical asphyxia; Sudden and unexpected infant death