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Review
. 2012 Dec;41(8):696-702.
doi: 10.1259/dmfr/59515421. Epub 2011 Nov 24.

Branchial cleft cyst at an unusual location: a rare case with a brief review

A S Panchbhai  1 , M S Choudhary
Affiliations
Review

Branchial cleft cyst at an unusual location: a rare case with a brief review

A S Panchbhai et al. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

A branchial cleft cyst (BCC) commonly presents as a solitary, painless mass in the neck of a child or young adult. They are most commonly located along the anterior border and the upper third of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the anterior triangle of the neck. It is very rare for a BCC to manifest in other locations, especially in the posterior triangle of the neck. BCCs are believed to be derived from the branchial apparatus, mostly from the second branchial arch, although many theories have been proposed to explain the aetiology of BCCs. It is possible for BCCs to be easily misdiagnosed as other swellings of oral or paraoral origin owing to their location. Intraoral lymphoepithelial cysts have also been reported in the literature. It is imperative that clinicians make an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be performed. If the cysts are excised properly, recurrence is rare. A rare case report of BCC arising in the neck from an unusual location with components in the posterior triangle is presented here.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Solitary globular swelling in the posterolateral aspect of neck along the sternocleidomastoid muscle and in the paramedian region of the neck. (b) Solitary globular swelling in the paramedian region of the neck
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Contrast enhanced CT (CECT) image showing location of the lesion in the anterior triangle and a deep component extending in the posterior triangle on the right side of upper neck below the level of the C2 vertebra. S, sternocleidomastoid muscle; C, carotid vessels; I, internal jugular vein. White arrows show the extent of the cyst. (b) CECT image showing location of the lesion in the lower neck adjacent to thyroid on the right side. Arrows show the extent of the cyst
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photomicrograph showing the lymphoid aggregates lined by epithelium at various places; the features are suggestive of branchial cleft cyst. S, lining of stratified squamous epithelium; I, free lymphoid cells; a, lymphoid aggregates in band-like or follicular pattern
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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