Thymopharyngeal cyst in an adult: a case report

Authors

  • Hoang Bui-Nguyen Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
  • Jean Claude Nshimirimana Department of Otolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital of Butare, Butare, Rwanda
  • Aimee Marie Kamaliza Department of Otolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
  • Charles Nkurunziza Department of Otolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
  • Isaie Ncogoza Department of Otolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
  • Mark A. Varvares Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
  • David A. Shaye Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20252992

Keywords:

Thymopharyngeal cyst, Congenital central neck mass, Rwanda

Abstract

A rare case of a thymopharyngeal cyst is identified in a young woman from Rwanda, who presented with a centrally located neck mass. Thymopharyngeal cysts, remnants of embryological thymic tissue, are infrequent findings especially in adults, and their diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion. We review the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical management, and discuss the literature on this rare entity. Our case report emphasizes the importance of including thymopharyngeal cysts in the differential diagnosis of central neck masses.

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References

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Kaufman MR, Smith S, Rothschild MA, Som P. Thymopharyngeal duct cyst: an unusual variant of cervical thymic anomalies. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127(11):1357-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.127.11.1357

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Jaafar RB, Kemps GJ, Tan B, Postma AA. Cervical thymic cyst in adult: A rare entity. International J Otorhinolaryngol and Head and Neck Surg. 2019;5(4):1088. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20192735

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Published

2025-09-24

How to Cite

Bui-Nguyen, H., Nshimirimana, J. C., Kamaliza, A. M., Nkurunziza, C., Ncogoza, I., Varvares, M. A., & Shaye, D. A. (2025). Thymopharyngeal cyst in an adult: a case report. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 11(5), 588–590. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20252992

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 5 (2025): September-October 2025

Section

Case Reports
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