Ectopic thymus in the neck; a case report and review of the literature

A soft, poorly defined mass in the right upper neck of a 7-week-old boy was shown on histology to be ectopic thymus. As aberrant thymic tissue often does change into cysts or neoplasms removal is the treatment of choice. Its persistence in the upper neck seems to be very rare. Embryology, incidence, differential diagnosis and treatment are discussed with a review of the literature.