title: Epithelial cyst in the posterior triangle of the neck: atypical branchial cyst or cystic lymph node metastasis?
abstract: We report the case of a 66-year-old man with a cervical neck mass located behind the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. To exclude malignancy, a full workup, including clinical, radiological, and cytological examination, was performed but failed to provide a definitive diagnosis. Histological analysis following excisional biopsy revealed a benign epithelial cyst, consistent with an atypically located branchial cyst. We describe an approach to the management of these neck masses and discuss several theories of the etiology of branchial cysts and how they may come to be abnormally located.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Domenic
authors: D
authors: Vital
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Gerhard F
authors: GF
authors: Huber
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Thomas F
authors: TF
authors: Pézier
authors: Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Rössle
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Probst
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Gian-Marco
authors: GM
authors: Widmer