Neck swellings derived from unpaired midline structures

These swellings tend to lie in the midline.

The most common causes of a neck swelling derived from a midline unpaired structure are:

• congenital anomalies
  • thyroglossal cyst (the most common congenital anomaly of the midline of the neck)
  • thymic rests (1)
  • dermoids (1)
• other lesions include:
  • pharyngeal pouch
  • laryngocoele
  • subhyoid bursa
  • carcinoma of the larynx, trachea and oesophagus
  • sublingual dermoid cyst
  • plunging ranula

Reference:

• (1) Eric Schwetschenau, The Adult Neck Mass, American Family Physician®, 2002;66:831-8.