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The cervical thymic cyst (CTC) is a rare, benign neck mass that most commonly presents in the pediatric population. These entities can occur anywhere along the normal path of descent of the thymus from the mandible to the sternal notch, and extension into the mediastinum has been observed. The presentation of these masses is often characterized by a painless, enlarging neck mass in a child during the first decade of life. Although most patients are asymptomatic, abutment of the cyst against local structures has led to a variety of presentations including respiratory distress. These rare lesions are noted to have a male predominance and most commonly present on the left side of the neck. We present the rare case of a 19-year-old male who presented with a left-sided painless, cystic neck mass. He underwent a computed tomography scan of the neck which showed a large cystic mass in the left neck deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Preoperatively, the diagnosis of an infected third branchial cyst was favored. The lesion was completely excised in the operating room. Final pathology was consistent with a CTC. The CTC is an uncommon benign process that often presents as an asymptomatic cystic neck mass. Knowledge of the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and treatment of these rare lesions is essential for the Otolaryngologist.

Abstract Background Given the potential for older patients to experience exaggerated toxicity and symptoms, this study was performed to characterize patient reported outcomes in older patients following definitive radiation therapy (RT) for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Methods Cancer-free head and neck cancer survivors (>6 months since treatment completion) were eligible for participation in a questionnaire-based study. Participants completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck module (MDASI-HN). Those patients ≥65 years old at treatment for OPC with definitive RT were included. Individual and overall symptom severity and clinical variables were analyzed. Results Of the 79 participants analyzed, 82% were male, 95% white, 41% T3/4 disease, 39% RT alone, 27% induction chemotherapy, 52% concurrent, and 18% both, and 96% IMRT. Median age at RT was 71 yrs. (range: 65–85); median time from RT to MDASI-HN was 46 mos. (2/3 > 24 mos.). The top 5 MDASI-HN items rated most severe in terms of mean (±SD) ratings (0–10 scale) were dry mouth (3.48 ± 2.95), taste (2.81 ± 3.29), swallowing (2.59 ± 2.96), mucus in mouth/throat (2.04 ± 2.68), and choking (1.30 ± 2.38) reported at moderate-severe levels (≥5) by 35, 29, 29, 18, and 13%, respectively. Thirty-nine % reported none (0) or no more than mild (1–4) symptoms across all 22 MDASI-HN symptoms items, and 38% had at least one item rated as severe (≥7). Hierarchical cluster analysis resulted in 3 patient groups: 1) ~65% with ranging from none to moderate symptom burden, 2) ~35% with moderate-severe ratings for a subset of classically RT-related symptoms (e.g. dry mouth, mucus, swallowing) and 3) 2 pts. with severe ratings of most items. Conclusions The overall long-term symptom burden seen in this older OPC cohort treated with modern standard therapy was largely favorable, yet a higher symptom group (~35%) with a distinct pattern of mostly local and classically RT-related symptoms was identified.

Abstract In the original publication [1] the name of author Jeremy M. Aymard was spelled wrong. The original article was updated to rectify this error.