title: Cystic metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as branchial cleft cyst: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the differential diagnosis between solitary cystic metastatic carcinoma from branchial cleft cyst and provide references for clinicians to treat cystic metastases from primary sites of the head and neck region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cases of cystic metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are presented and a review of the relevant English literature on cystic metastasis from head and neck cancer was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two adult patients with a lateral cystic neck mass were initially clinically diagnosed as branchial cleft cysts. Based on the postoperative histopathologic examination and nasopharyngeal blind biopsy, they were finally diagnosed as cystic metastases from occult nasopharyngeal carcinoma. After a review of the literature, diagnostic strategies, histopathologic features, and therapeutic options for cervical cystic metastases were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical cystic metastasis of NPC in adults may mimic branchial cleft cyst in clinical, radiological, and even histological features. Surgeons should bear in mind that when lateral neck cysts with characteristics of suspected malignancy are confronted, nasopharynx examination, including blind or random biopsy, is highly recommended before surgery. Metastatic disease should always be considered as a potential differential diagnosis in adult patients with a cystic neck lesion. Correct diagnosis is important so that appropriate surgical and radiotherapeutic treatment can be delivered.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: szzgz@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Guo Zhi
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Zi Long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jing Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Pathology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Zhi Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: ChaoYang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed