Spontaneous cervical lymphocele

Background. Primary (spontaneous) cervical lymphoceles in adults are extremely rare. More frequently occurring acquired cervical lymphoceles have been described in the setting of a neck trauma or after a neck dissection. We report a case of a spontaneous left cervical lymphocele in a previously asymptomatic female. Methods and Results. A 44‐year‐old woman presented with a 2‐month history of a left neck mass initially noted by her physician during a routine physical examination. She denied prior head and neck surgery or neck trauma. CT scan of the neck revealed a left cystic mass. Fine‐needle aspiration of the cyst yielded chylous material and lymphocytes. The surgical specimen grossly and microscopically was consistent with a lymphocele. The diagnosis was confirmed using D2‐40 antibody targeting lymphatic endothelial cells lining the cyst. Conclusion. Primary cervical lymphocele should be included in the differential diagnosis of a solitary neck mass in an adult. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 2007