Introduction: Esophageal duplication cysts (EDCs) are rare congenital foregut anomalies. Cervical EDCs are exceptionally rare and can cause life-threatening respiratory distress in neonates due to mass effect on the pliable trachea. Case presentation: A 5-day-old male neonate presented with a right-sided cervical mass and progressive respiratory distress. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-defined, non-communicating cystic lesion at the cervicothoracic inlet. The patient underwent complete surgical excision. Discussion: This case highlights a cervical EDC, a distinctly rare variant. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach, emphasizing precise preoperative imaging and complete surgical excision, aligns with the standard of care for such foregut anomalies and resulted in a full recovery. Conclusion: Cervical EDCs, though extremely rare, are a critical differential for neonatal respiratory compromise. Complete surgical excision is the definitive and curative treatment, as demonstrated in this case. Heightened awareness of this entity is crucial for timely management.
Abbas et al. (Thu,) studied this question.