A Case of Ectopic Cervical Thymus Presenting as a Submandibular Mass / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Ectopic cervical thymus is an extremely uncommon etiology of neck mass in infants. We report a case of ectopic thymus in five months old male baby, presenting as a submandibular mass. Ultrasonography and CT scan revealed a 5.2 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm-sized solid mass in the left suprahyoid neck between parotid and submandibular gland, which was regarded as malignant lesion though it was soft, non-tender on examination. For differential diagnosis of malignant lymphoma and soft tissue sarcoma, an incisional biopsy was performed to confirm ectopic cervical thymus. He is under our observation without having gone through surgical excision because the thymus will involute spontaneously and he has no symptoms.