Background

Management of masses thattake place in both anterior and lateral cervical compartments is difficult, since understanding the anatomical content of the different compartments of the head and neck is essential to deduce diagnoses relative to localizations [1].

Case presentation

This is the extremely rare case of histiocytosis of thyroid gland of a 6-year-old girl, which was discovered in an acute episode first, which had an evolution of a lingering neck infection. However, the involvement of more than one cervical compartment at once, as well as the lesion’s aggressive aspect, increased diagnostic difficulty.

The palpation of the mass showed tenderness; there was no sign of inflammation, nor was there any fistula to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Furthermore, the patient did not experience any pus discharge in her throat.

  • The patient was stable: no respiratory distress, no signs of sepsis, and no neurological abnormalities.

  • The patient did not have any signs of compression: no dysphagia and no dysphonia were depicted.

The initial blood test showed the following: hemoglobin of 8.1; with low VGM: 26; CRP: 160; hyperleukocytosis: 16,000, platelet count was normal; and urea and creatinine plasma levels were normal. There was no biological tumor lysis syndrome. TP was normal, and urea and creatinine count was normal. TSH and T4 were normal; calcium and albumin plasma levels were normal as well.

The patient underwent cervical ultrasound exam that showed a mass at the expense of the left thyroid lobe; the mass extends through the sub-hyoid muscles to the lateral cervical region (Fig. 1).

A CT scan with and without contrast injection was performed; it showed a heterogenous mass, which seemed centered in the anterior compartment, and from which it extended to the left lateral compartment, as well as the posterior compartment, invading the prevertebral muscles and englobing the carotid and the internal jugular vein (Fig. 2).

The patient underwent surgical biopsy; a basal cervical incision was made, dissection with the myo-cutaneous plane. Per-operative observation established that the mass breeched the infrahyoid muscles, as well as the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A biopsy was performed without opening the middle line (Fig. 3).

The pathological exam showed an eosinophilic granulomatosis, associated with Stembergoid cells. The immune-histochemical exam concluded that the lesion is histiocytosis.

The patient underwent a cervicothoracic and pelvic CT scan to rule out systemic forms.

The diagnosis of isolated histiocytosis of thyroid region was confirmed.

The patient underwent hemithyroidectomy, associated with careful dissection of extension of the mass to lateral compartment of the neck. Postoperative exam showed no abnormalities. No dysphonia and no hypocalcemia were observed.

The follow-up showed satisfactory results. The 8-month follow-up showed satisfactory results, no cervical swelling, and no signs of inflammation or compression. Postoperative naso-fibroscopy was normal.

The most important takeaway message of this work is that methodical approach of neck masses allows to rule out the most aggressive lesions frequently encountered, which allows clinicians to establish thorough diagnosis and management without further delay.

Discussion

Cervical masses in pediatric population can be the following: congenital, inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic either benign or malignant [1]. The infectious etiology is generally either acute or chronic [1].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Clinical image of an anterior and lateral mass of the neck

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Axial CT scans showing lesion in the left side of anterior compartment of the neck, extended to the vascular space and the posterior prevertebral spaces

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Preoperative image showing granulomatous mass breaching through the infrahyoid muscles

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Lateral masses are most frequently infectious. Medical history yields very important data relative to diagnosis: the age of the patient, the duration, and history of head and neck infections.

The notion of tick-borne diseases is deduced according to residence location and travel to infested zones. Exposition to cats, their excrements, could unveil toxoplasmosis. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and a history of immune-compromised patients, tuberculosis [1].

Moreover, family history could be indicative of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome, neurofibromatosis, autoimmune diseases, vascular abnormalities, and head and neck cancers [1].

Cervical tumors are rarely malignant in children [2,3,4]. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequently encountered [2,3,4,5] (Table 1).

Table 1 Most frequent malignant tumors of the head and neck in children [2, 5]
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Table 1 summarizes the most frequent malignant processes of the head and neck in children [2, 5].

Thyroglossal cysts are the most frequently encountered branchial arch malformations; the most frequent malformation of the head and neck in children is vascular malformations [1, 3, 4].

Cervical ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI play an important role in diagnosis orientations (Table 2) [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. 

Table 2 Clinical and radiological aspects of soft tissue infectious, inflammatory, and congenital lesions in children
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Fine needle aspiration (FNA) could help guide diagnostic reasoning; it is however overridden when radiological signs of aggressiveness are found [10]. Open biopsy and histological study are key to confirm diagnosis in lesions other than vascular malformations [10].

Histiocytosis of the head and neck represents 5–9 per 1 million patients [10]. It is mostly predominant in males, with a peak occurrence between 1 and 4 years of age [10].

Classifications of histiocytosis have changed in the last 50 years; historically, it was called histiocytosis X. It includes eosinophilic granuloma, Hand-Schuller-Christian disease, and Letterer-Siwe disease [9].

A new nomenclature classifies Langerhans cell histiocytosis in three categories: single-system single site (SS-s), single-system multiple site (Ss-m), and multiple site (MS) [9, 10].

Multiple site Langerhans histiocytosis may present in 2 forms: with or without organ involvement. Low-risk organs are lymph nodes, skin, bones, and pituitary gland; high risk organs are bone marrow, the liver, spleen, and the lungs [9].

Besides, a revised classification system of histiocytoses and neoplasms of macrophage dendritic cell lineages defines 5 groups regarding histological aspect and genetic profile (Table 3) [9, 10].

Table 3 Revised classification system of histiocytoses and malignancies macrophage-dendritic cell lineages
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Single-system lesions occur in 65% of cases: 70–82% of bone lesions and 12% of skin lesions. In multisystem forms, the specific involvement of organs affects treatment priorities and prognosis [9].

Histological profile is based on electron microscopy or immunohistochemical reactivity of histiocytes to CD1a and/or S100. Electron microscopy shows characteristic Birbeck granules [10].

Thyroid histiocytosis is generally involved in systemic forms of histiocytosis. Isolated thyroid involvement is extremely rare [9, 10].

Isolated histiocytosis is managed by surgery: in this case, hemithyroidectomy or thyroidectomy. Association in some cases, with adjuvant therapies of chemoradiation, is discussed in multidisciplinary reunions [10].

Conclusions

This is the rare case of thyroid histiocytosis in children. The take-home message of this work is to discuss the differential diagnoses of aggressive masses that are located in the anterior and lateral cervical spaces, regarding frequency and severity, without delay to diagnosis and management.