Congenital Thymic Cyst

Definition

Unilocular or multilocular epithelial lined cavity with thymic tissue in the wall of the cyst. They are benign and found in the neck and mediastinum, following embryologic movement of the thymus from the mandibular angle to the manubrium of the sternum.

Clinical Features

• Incidence

  Congenital thymic cysts are very rare.

• Age

  Congenital thymic cyst can occur at any age. When present in children, they occur as masses in the neck, while in adults, they are mostly asymptomatic, unless there is compression of some organs or structures nearby.

• Sex

  There is no predilection for either sex.

• Site

  Congenital thymic cysts occur in the neck and mediastinum, usually anterosuperior.

• Treatment

  Surgical excision if symptomatic.

• Outcome

  Since congenital thymic cysts are benign lesions, surgery is curative, unless malignant neoplasm is present when additional treatment is needed.

Macroscopy

Congenital thymic cysts are usually unilocular but can be also multilocular. If in the neck region they...