Ectopic thymus as a cause of Horner's syndrome

Radiol Case Rep. 2019 Nov 8;15(1):23-25. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2019.10.004. eCollection 2020 Jan.

Abstract

Ectopy of the thymus is a rare anomaly arising during fetal development, where the thymus does not make a complete decent into the thoracic cavity where it should involute in adolescence. The most common complications of an ectopic thymus include tracheal or esophageal compression presenting in childhood. This is a report of a single case of ectopic cervical thymus identified in a 2-month-old infant presenting with Horner's syndrome. Thymic ectopy should be on the differential when performing a radiologic evaluation of a neck mass when imaging characteristics are similar to thymic tissue.

Keywords: Ectopic; Horner's syndrome; Pediatrics; Thymus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports