title: Branchial cleft cyst at an unusual location: a rare case with a brief review.
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.
authors: Oral Medicine and Radiology, SPD College, Savangi-M, India. aratipanch@gmail.com
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Panchbhai
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Choudhary
mesh_terms: D001935:Branchioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media