J Korean Soc Radiol.  2012 Oct;67(4):231-233. 10.3348/jksr.2012.67.4.231.

Aberrant Cervical Thymus Mimicking Thyroid on Ultrasonography: A Case Report

• Lee JS
• Park JH
• Kim BS
• Choi JH
• Park JK

• KMID: 1439531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.67.4.231

Abstract

Aberrant cervical thymus is rarely reported in adults. We report a case of solid aberrant cervical thymus in a 27-year-old female, which was found incidentally on ultrasonography for the evaluation of the thyroid cancer. On ultrasonography, the lesion was found between the left thyroid and common carotid artery without any remarkable interface echo, and had similar echogenicity to the thyroid. The lesion extended to the upper pole of the left thyroid.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Carotid Artery, Common
Female
Humans
Thymus Gland
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Ultrasonography reveals a solid mass between the left thyroid gland and CCA, which has elongated tubular shape and similar echogenicity to the thyroid parenchyma (A: transverse image, B: longitudinal image). There is no remarkable interface echo to the thyroid parenchyma. The lesion has multiple internal echogenic dots (A, B). Doppler ultrasonography reveals internal blood flow (C). Post-contrast coronal reconstructed CT scan shows about 7 cm, elongated tubular shaped mass, located between the left thyroid and CCA, and extends from the upper pole level of the left thyroid to the superior mediastinum (D). Several enhancing vascular structures (arrow) are noted in the mass (D). Note.-CCA = common carotid artery, M = mass, T = thyroid

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