Background: Primary (spontaneous) cervical lymphoceles in adults are extremely rare. More frequently occurring acquired cervical lymphoceles have been described in the setting of a neck trauma or after a neck dissection. We report a case of a spontaneous left cervical lymphocele in a previously asymptomatic female.
Methods and results: A 44-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of a left neck mass initially noted by her physician during a routine physical examination. She denied prior head and neck surgery or neck trauma. CT scan of the neck revealed a left cystic mass. Fine-needle aspiration of the cyst yielded chylous material and lymphocytes. The surgical specimen grossly and microscopically was consistent with a lymphocele. The diagnosis was confirmed using D2-40 antibody targeting lymphatic endothelial cells lining the cyst.
Conclusion: Primary cervical lymphocele should be included in the differential diagnosis of a solitary neck mass in an adult.