A “no-touch” neck “mass” in a child

Aberrant cervical thymus is a rare cause of pediatric neck masses related to the embryological development. In most of the cases, this condition is asymptomatic and essentially benign in nature. Here, we describe the sonological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of cervical thymus in a 2-month-old baby who presented with the left submandibular swelling. The unique imaging findings on ultrasound and MRI paralleling that of the normal thymus tissue were helpful in confidently establishing the diagnosis. Therefore, the radiologist must be aware of the condition and the typical normal appearance of thymus which can obviate the need for biopsy or surgical intervention.