小児頸部異所性胸腺の1例

A case of pediatric cervical ectopic thymus

小児の頸部腫瘤は発生異常に基づく疾患が多く，術前診断に難渋することが多い。今回我々は乳児期に頸部腫瘤を認め，生検にて異所性胸腺と診断された1例を経験したので文献的考察を加え報告する。

Ectopic thymus is a rare cause of a pediatric neck mass. We report a case of cervical ectopic thymus and the literature is reviewed. A 3-month-old boy presented with a right neck mass. The MRI signal intensity was identical to that of mediastinal thymus. Histopathological examination revealed normal thymic tissue. Ectopic thymus should be listed in the differential diagnosis for neck masses in children especially when located in the characteristic place, and should be compared with mediastinal thymus.