Cervical Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lymphadenitis Mimicking a Thyroid Tumor and Infiltrating Deep into the Neck

Aim: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lymphadenitis (NML), which occurs in 1.2 per 100,000 children, is very rare. And those which emerge at the anterior cervical portion and infiltrate deep into the neck are even more rare. Generally, this disorder is uncommon existed near the thyroid gland. We report here a case of NML mimicking a thyroid tumor and infiltrating into the deep part of the anterior neck. Case: A mass at the anterior portion of her neck was found at 5 years old. It was not mobile and palpated as an irregularly surfaced hard mass whose size was 3 cm at the anterior lower portion of her neck. Ultrasonography showed an oval mass which existed near the slightly inferior part of the right lobe of the thyroid gland. Enhanced computed tomography showed a mass near the slightly inferior part of the right lobe of the thyroid gland. The mass was resected with the platysma and the right sternohyoid muscle. In the HE staining, epithelioid cell and Langhans type giant cells surrounding coagulative necrosis lesions which seemed to be caseation necrosis existed, similarly to cervical NML. Discussion: No consensus exists for the treatment of NML, but many documents advise complete excision. When the lesion cannot be completely removed, excision as far as possible and additional antibiotics are recommended. The characteristics of imaging of NML around the thyroid gland and infiltrating deep into the anterior neck and mediastinum are discussed.

Usefulness of Chest Computed Tomography for Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pneumomediastinum with Negative Findings on Plain X-Ray

Idiopathic pneumomediastinum is rare in children. Few cases of patients with pneumomediastinum show negative findings on X-ray examination. Chest computed tomography (CT) was very useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of the extent of pneumomediastinum. We report here a case of idiopathic pneumomediastinum in a 15-year-old boy who exhibited no significant chest X-ray finding. The patient was referred to our institute for the further evaluation of pre-cordial pain and breathing difficulty. Precordial pain suddenly developed, when he was carrying a portable shrine on his shoulder (day of onset). He was admitted to another institute 3 days after onset because of worsening precordial pain. On admission, he presented with 98% saturation of hemoglobin in the peripheral blood under room air. Plain chest X-ray also revealed no abnormal findings. A half-dissolved gastrographin swallow showed no leakage of gastrographin from the pharynx and esophagus to the mediastinum, and no diverticulum within the esophagus. Plain chest CT revealed extensive emphysema around the trachea from the neck to the portion inferior to the carina of trachea. The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic pneumomediastinum because the cause was unclear. We decided to admit him to our institute under fasting conditions and rest. His symptoms improved 3 days after onset. The lesion had disap-peared 8 days after onset on chest CT. When young people experience precordial pain which increases on inspiration, we must consider pneumomediastinum in a differential diagnosis, and it is important to perform chest CT.