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Case Reports
. 2019 Jun;20(3):191-194.
doi: 10.7181/acfs.2019.00031. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Branchial cleft cyst in the parotid gland in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient

Yun Yong Park  1 , Jung Soo Yoon  1 , Seong Sik Bang  2 , Hee Chang Ahn  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Branchial cleft cyst in the parotid gland in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient

Yun Yong Park et al. Arch Craniofac Surg. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

In branchial lymphoepithelial cyst (BLEC), which is also known as branchial cleft cyst, the remnants of a branchial arch develop into a cyst, causing swelling. The first case of BLEC in the parotid gland was reported by Hildebrant in 1895. Since then, BLEC in the parotid gland has continued to be reported, but in rare cases. A 45-year-old man presented to our hospital with a swelling of the left cheek of approximately 6 months' duration. The patient underwent a superficial parotidectomy and was pathologically diagnosed with BLEC. Of note, this was the first case of non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related BLEC of the parotid gland in South Korea. BLEC is a benign condition, but its treatment depends on the presence of HIV infection. In HIV-negative patients, BLEC does not require a further work-up to evaluate metastasis. Our case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of BLEC in a patient without HIV.

Keywords: Branchioma; Parotid gland; Salivary glands.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Preoperative photographs. The patient complained of swelling on the left cheek area. The swelling of the left cheek was not accompanied by pain or tenderness. (A) Frontal view and (B) lateral view.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Preoperative computed tomography. (A, B) The arrow indicates the mass, which was well-defined, located in the superficial lobe, and measured 2.5×1.7×2.1 cm. The findings were suggestive of a benign mass, such as pleomorphic adenoma or sialocele.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Histopathologic findings of the lymphoepithelial cyst. (A) The cut surface showed a unilocular cystic lesion, filled with straw-colored fluid (gross findings). (B) On microscopic examination, the dense lymphoid component completely surrounded the cystic cavity (H&E, scanning view). (C) Lymphoid follicles with a germinal center were identified (H&E, ×200). (D) The cyst was lined by attenuated squamous epithelium, and lymphocytic infiltration of the cystic epithelium was prominent (H&E, ×400).
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