좌측 경부 종대를 주소로 내원한 이소성 경부 흉선 1예

We report a case of aberrant cervical thymus in the left submandibular area of a three-month-old boy. On US scan and MR images, a well-marginated, 4 cm-sized solid mass along the left carotid sheath, anteromedial to the sternocleidomastoidmuscle and inferior to the submandibular gland, was seen. MR signal intensity of the mass showed that it was similar to that of normal thymus in the anterior mediastinum. Although a rare disease, ectopic thymus should be included in the differential diagnosis of cervical masses along the carotid sheath in infants. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2012;23:313-315)