Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012; 60(02): 175-176
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280067
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Totally Cervical Thymoma from the Orthotopic Thymus

J. Vannucci
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Perugia Medical School, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy
,
V. Tassi
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Perugia Medical School, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy
,
M. Monacelli
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Perugia Medical School, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy
,
F. Puma
1   Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Perugia Medical School, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

15 April 2011
17 May 2011

18 May 2011

Publication Date:
15 July 2011 (online)

Abstract

Totally cervical thymoma is extremely rare and usually arises from ectopic thymic tissue. We report a case of a B1 thymoma localized in the neck, misdiagnosed for a decade as a thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspiration biopsy led to a preoperative suspicion of the correct diagnosis. The tumor was resected intact through a cervical collar incision, along with the upper thymic horn from which it originated. A pathogenetic hypothesis was formulated.