title: The rare third branchial cleft cyst.
abstract: Third branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) are rare entities that represent abnormal persistence of the branchial apparatus. On CT examination, these cysts appear as homogeneous low-attenuation masses with well-circumscribed margins; on MR imaging, they demonstrate variable signal intensity on T1-weighted images and are hyperintense relative to muscle on T2-weighted images. Definitive treatment is surgical excision. We present a case of a third BCC and describe its diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Provenzano
authors.forename: R J H
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: W R K
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smoker
mesh_terms: D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis