Conservatively managed solid and cystic ECT
We identified 33 cases (30 patients, 3 bilateral) with a diagnosis of a
solid ECT which were conservatively managed (Table
2).8, 10-13, 16, 47, 48, 50, 52, 56, 65, 71, 72, 76 We
did not identify any cases of conservatively managed cystic ECT.
The majority (75%) of lesions were found in the neck. More than one
modality of imaging was performed in 8 (26%) patients; a CT scan was
not performed in any patient. Diagnosis on imaging only was made in 23
(76%) while 7 patients required a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Of
these, 2 patients were initially misdiagnosed on imaging (1 vascular
anomaly and 1 lymphoblastic lymphoma).
One patient who was diagnosed with ECT on USS and initially managed
conservatively required subsequent surgical excision due to an increase
in size and the onset of respiratory symptoms.12 There
were no other complications of patients managed conservatively,
follow-up was reported in 8 patients only. Normal mediastinal thymus was
present in 11 patients and absent in 1 patient: no information was
available in 18 patients.