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Adult Cervical Thymic Cysts: A Narrative Review
Hesham Saleh Almofada1,2, Norah Ibrahim Almedemgh3, Eyas Osama Othman1,2
1Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Communicatons Sciences Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|June 28, 2022
Summary
Cervical thymic cysts are rare neck masses. A painless left-sided neck mass may indicate a thymic cyst, requiring surgical excision for diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Thymic cysts are rare benign neck masses, comprising less than 1% of all cervical masses.
- Previous reviews on adult cervical thymic cysts are limited, with the last comprehensive review in 2011.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review presentations, investigations, and treatments of adult cervical thymic cysts.
- To update the knowledge base since the last review in 2011.
- To present a case of a 28-year-old male with a left cervical thymic cyst.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of ScienceDirect, PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar (January 2010 - October 2021).
- Retrospective analysis of reported adult cervical thymic cyst cases.
- Data collection included demographics, presentation, imaging, and surgical approach.
Main Results:
- Eighteen adult cases were analyzed.
- Cysts were predominantly left-sided (n=9), with patients presenting with painless left-sided neck swelling.
- Computed tomography (CT) was the preferred imaging modality; surgical excision was essential for diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Adult cervical thymic cyst is a rare diagnosis.
- A painless left-sided neck mass without a clear lower border warrants consideration of thymic cyst.
- MRI and CT are key for preoperative planning, and surgical excision is mandatory for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
