Cervical Thymic Cyst with parathyroid tissue - a diagnostic conundrum

Cervical thymic cysts are relatively rare benign cystic lesions that tend to be diagnosed clinically as branchial cysts, which usually present as painless, enlarging neck masses. They can occur anywhere along the normal path of descent of thymic primordia from the angle of the mandible to the sternal notch, with mediastinal extension observed in approximately 50% of cases. They are usually seen in the first decade of life on the left side with a male predominance. Here we report a case of a 15-year-old boy who presented to the hospital with left-sided neck swelling for about 2 months. The neck's contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) revealed a large, well-defined cystic swelling in the left neck region, showing peripheral enhancement, seen from the submandibular region to the superior mediastinum extending into the retrosternal region. Direct fine needle aspiration (FNA) was done, which showed a benign lesion with inflammatory and cystic characteristics, leading to the possibility of a branchial cyst. The cyst was completely excised surgically. Histopathology showed a thymic cyst with parathyroid tissue. The presence of thymic tissue with Hassall's corpuscles is essential for the diagnosis. Knowledge of the clinical presentation, cyto-histological findings, and differential diagnosis of cystic cervical lesions in the pediatric population is important to diagnose this rare entity. Hence, though uncommon, when one comes across a cystic cervical region mass in children, a diagnosis of cervical thymic cyst should be kept in mind. Nonetheless, a definitive diagnosis depends on imaging findings as well as intraoperative findings and histopathological examination.

Cisto tímico gigante com localização atípica: relato de caso / Giant thymic cyst with atypical location: case report

Paciente do sexo feminino, 47 anos, admitida com queixa de dispneia aos pequenos esforços como único sintoma. Exames clínico, eletrocardiográfico e de laboratório normais. Radiografia de tórax demonstrou massa em base de hemitórax direito, que a tomografia computadorizada de tórax revelou tratar-se de massa cística bem delimitada, medindo cerca de 11,3 x 10,6 x 10,9 cm, sugerindo o diagnóstico de cisto pericárdico. A paciente foi submetida a toracotomia direita para ressecção do cisto. A paciente evoluiu sem intercorrências. O resultado do exame anatomopatológico, ao contrário do esperado, diagnosticou cisto tímico.

A 47-year-old woman was admitted with a history of dyspnea on mild exertion as her only symptom. Clinical exam, laboratory tests, and electrocardiography were normal. Chest X-ray demonstrated right hemithorax base mass, and CT scan revealed a well-defined cystic mass measuring approximately 11.3 x 10.6 x 10.9 cm, suggesting the diagnosis of pericardial cyst. The patient underwent right thoracotomy for resection of the cyst. The patient's progress- was uneventful. The result of histopathological examination, contrary to expectations, revealed thymic cyst.

Nonfunctional parathyroid cyst: case report / Cisto de paratireóide não funcionante: relato de caso

CONTEXT: Parathyroid cysts are rare clinical and pathological entities, with less than 300 cases reported. The inferior parathyroid glands are most commonly involved, with left-side predominance. Parathyroid cysts may be functional or nonfunctional, depending on their association with hypercalcemia. CASE REPORT: A 25-year-old man presented a palpable asymptomatic left-side neck mass. Ultrasound revealed a cystic structure contiguous with the left thyroid lobe. Serum ionic calcium was normal. The patient underwent left thyroid lobectomy plus isthmectomy with excision of the cyst. The histological findings revealed a parathyroid cyst. Parathyroid cysts typically present as asymptomatic neck masses, and surgical excision appears to be the treatment of choice.

CONTEXTO: Cistos de paratireóide são entidades clínicas e patológicas raras, com menos de 300 casos relatados. As glândulas paratireóides inferiores são mais comumente envolvidas, com predomínio do lado esquerdo. Cistos de paratireóide podem ser funcionais ou não, dependendo de sua associação com hipercalcemia. RELATO DE CASO: Um homem de 25 anos apresentou-se com massa cervical esquerda palpável assintomática. A ultrassonografia revelou uma estrutura cística contígua com o lobo tireoidiano esquerdo. O cálcio iônico sérico estava normal. O paciente foi submetido a lobectomia esquerda com istmectomia e excisão do cisto. Os achados histopatológicos revelaram cisto de paratireóide. Cistos de paratireóide tipicamente se apresentam como massas cervicais assintomáticas e a ressecção cirúrgica parece ser o tratamento de escolha.

Cisto tímico como diagnóstico diferencial de doença aguda da aorta torácica / Thymic cyst as a differencial diagnosis of acute thoracic aortic disease

Paciente encaminhada de outro serviço com história de dor torácica aguda de forte intensidade com diagnóstico de hematoma intramural na aorta ascendente para correção cirúrgica. Após investigação diagnóstica, identificou-se tumoração cística no mediastino anterior, que envolvia toda a aorta ascendente e que produzia restrição ao enchimento diastólico do ventrículo direito. A análise histológica do tumor ressecado revelou o diagnóstico de cisto tímico. Objetivo deste relato é descrever tumoração mediastinal de baixa prevalência, que pode produzir imagem radiológica com características de hematoma intramural e resultar em conduta terapêutica equivocada.

Patient was referred to our Service with acute thoracic pain and diagnosis of intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta for surgical correction. The diagnostic investigation showed a cystic tumor involving the ascending aorta causing restriction of the right ventricular inflow. After resection, the histologic analysis disclosed the diagnosis of thymic cyst. The aim of this study is to describe a rare mediastinal tumor that may simulate a radiologic feature with characteristics of intramural hematoma and may result in a wrong therapeutic approach.

Surgical pathology of cystic lesions of the mediastinum.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal cysts are uncommonly encountered in a pathologist's experience. AIMS: To study the incidence, location, clinical presentation and histologic subtypes of cysts in the mediastinum. MATERIALS and METHODS: Cystic lesions of the mediastinum, surgically excised over a period of 22 years were studied after retrieval of relevant clinical data and slides. RESULTS: Thirty-nine mediastinal cysts were encountered in the study period. Most of the patients (81.5 %) were symptomatic. Histologically, foregut cysts (19 cases, 50 %) were the most common followed by teratomatous cysts (ten cases, 26.3 %) and thymic cysts (four cases, 10.5 %). Bronchogenic cysts represented 63 % of the fore-gut cysts. Unusual lesions in the form of cystic mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis and cystic schwannoma were seen in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite varied location and histology, clinical presentation of mediastinal cysts are similar. Surgical intervention is the preferred line of management.

Cervical thymic cyst: report of a case and review of the literature.

Congenital thymic cysts are uncommon and often misdiagnosed as either branchial cleft or cystic hygromas. This paper presents the case of a male child, who presented with a soft, fluctuating mass in the left side of his neck. Surgical excision revealed an ectopic thymic cyst. The histopathologic features of thymic cysts are diagnostic. Ectopic thymic tissue may be an infrequent finding, but it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children.

Quiste Tímico: A propósito de 1 caso en una mujer senil / Cyst Tímico: On purpose of 1 case in a senile woman

Los quistes tímicos son lesiones poco frecuentes. La mayoría se presenta en las primeras décadas de la vida, aunque pueden estar presentes desde el nacimiento. Otros se descubren incidentalmente en radiografías torácicas y autopsias y pueden confundirse con tumores malignos. Se reporta 1 caso, con hemorragia antigua y granulomas de colesterol, en el estudio necrópsico de una anciana de 71 años de edad, localizado en la porción anterosuperior del mediastino, no relacionado con su fallecimiento, el cual fue por infarto miocárdico agudo. El estudio histológico de la pieza reveló la naturaleza tímica del proceso. Se discuten los aspectos microscópicos del caso y se precisa su diagnóstico diferencial con otros tumores del mediastino(AU)

Thymic cysts are uncommon lesions. Most of them occur in the first decade of life, although they may be present at birth. Other thymic cysts are incidentally discovered in chest X-rays and in autopsy and may be mistaken for malignant tumors. It is reported the case of a woman aged 71 with an old hemorrhage and cholesterol granuloma detected by necropsy study, where a cyst was located in the mediastinum anteroposterior portion.. It was not related to her death, since she died from acute myocardial infarction. The histologic study of the cyst revealed the thymic nature of the process. The microscopic features of the case are discussed and its differential diagnosis is specified in relation to other mediastinal tumors(AU)

Chylous cysts of the mediastinum: report of a case and review of the literature

Life-threatening spontaneous chylothorax is a rare clinical entity. Correct diagnosis and understanding of its pathogenesis is paramount in order to apply definite surgical treatment. A case of a ruptured multilocular chylocyst around the thoracic duct and cysterna chyli is presented. Multiple bilateral aspirations, right thoracostomy, right thoracotomy, a frustrated attempt to ligate the thoracic duct, and an attempt to insert a pleuroperitoneal shunt, were all unsuccessful. Definite surgery accomplished rehabilitation of the patient after a 5 1/2 month hospitalization. Revision of the literature and vindicative historical facts are presented

Quiste entérico congénito del mediastino. Comunicación de un caso / Mediastinum congenital enteric cyst: report of a case

Se presenta un caso de quiste entérico congénito del mediastino, diagnósticado en la autopsia del recién nacido, quien muere a la hora de vida después de presentar dificultad respiratoria, y la cual no cedió con la aplicación de ventilación asistida. Se hace una revisión de la embriología, los métodos diagnósticados y el tratamiento actual de esta malformación

Quistes endodérmicos del mediastino / Endodermic cysts of the mediastinum

A propósito de 2 quistes endodérmicos del mediastino, uno de ellos intramural respecto al esófago, se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica y se propone una clasificación histológica. Se destacan 5 tipos de quiste: broncógeno, esofágico, gastroenterógeno, indeterminado y tímico. Se consideran específicamente los 4 primeros, señalando las características microscópicas de la mucosa, submucosa y del estroma que permiten su diferenciación. Finalmente se detallan las manifestaciones clínicas de cada uno de ellos, y se enfatiza la necesidad de tratarlos quirúrgicamente