Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008; 56(3): 177-178
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965643
Case Reports

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cervicomediastinal Thymic Cyst - Report of a Case

V. Amanatidou1 , M. Mavrokosta1 , A. Kourtesis2 , P. Azariadis2 , A. Tsilimigaki1
  • 12nd Pediatric Department, Venizelion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece
  • 22nd Cardiac Surgery Department, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
Further Information

Publication History

Received April 26, 2007

Publication Date:
26 March 2008 (online)

Introduction

Thymic cysts are rare, benign, cervical or mediastinal lesions. They are considered to be the sequestrated remains of the thymopharyngeal duct structure. They can be located in any position along the normal descent route of the thymus gland, i.e., from the mandible angle, through the lateral neck, up to the sternal notch, with half of them extending into the anterior mediastinum [[1], [2]]. The diagnosis is usually made postoperatively, based on histological examination of the excised specimen. Complete surgical removal remains the treatment of choice. We present a case of an extreme-sized cervicomediastinal cystic lesion only postoperatively definitively diagnosed as a thymic cyst.

References

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Dr. MD Virginia Amanatidou

Venizelion General Hospital
2nd Pediatric Department

Knossos Avenue

71021 Heraklion, Crete

Greece

Phone: + 30 28 10 36 01 17

Fax: + 30 28 10 36 01 17

Email: virna_amanatidou@yahoo.gr