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J Clin Ultrasound 2021 Jun 4. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) are common causes of cervical tumors in children and adulthood; however, prenatal diagnosis of BCC is rare. In neonates, these cysts can suddenly increase in size, causing airway obstruction and becoming a life-threatening condition. In this case report, we describe the prenatal diagnosis of a third BCC at the 25th week of pregnancy using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and three-dimensional virtual models, as well as the perinatal outcomes of this rare condition. Read More

J Int Med Res 2021 May;49(5):3000605211012549

Department of Otolaryngology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Third branchial cleft cyst is a rare congenital disease of the neck. It presents as a painless mass that develops rapidly in the neck following an infection. This is the first case report of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by a third branchial cleft cyst. Read More

Orv Hetil 2021 04 2;162(15):595-600. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

5 Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Megyei Központi Kórház és Egyetemi Oktatókórház, Fül-Orr-Gége és Fej-Nyak Sebészeti Osztály, Miskolc.

Összefoglaló. A lateralis cysticus nyaki terimék két leggyakoribb oka a branchiogen cysta és a cysticus nyaki áttét. Az átfedő lokalizáció (a leggyakrabban a IIA nyaki régióban), a betegek életkora és az esetenként hirtelen kezdet alapján a két leggyakoribb ok differenciáldiagnózisa nagy kihívást jelenthet. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2020 10;37:334. Epub 2020 Dec 10.

Service d´Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie et de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie de Rabat, Université Mohamed V de Rabat, Hôpital Militaire d´Instruction Mohamed V de Rabat, Rabat, Maroc.

Parotid branchial cysts are rare and poorly known congenital malformations of the first branchial cleft. They are characterized by three types of manifestations which may be associated to it or isolated, including inflammatory swelling of the subauricular and inferior portion of the parotid with or without cervico-cutaneous fistula projecting into the cervico-mandibular area and a fistula in the floor of the external auditory canal with or without otorrhea, with or without pretimpanic bridle on otoscopy. They often go unnoticed, except for superinfections. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Jan;100(3):e24375

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Rationale: The diagnosis of type IV branchial cleft cyst (BCC) according to the Bailey classification is very challenging due to lack of specific clinical manifestations in the early stage of the disease. Here, we present the transoral surgical route of endoscopic resection of second BCC in the parapharyngeal space (PPS) with good outcomes.

Patient Concerns: A 21-year-old man with a 1-year history of snoring complained about sore throat for 1 month and a fever that lasted for 3 days. Read More

Head Neck 2021 Apr 3;43(4):E27-E29. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, New York, USA.

Background: Second branchial cleft cysts (SBCCs) are congenital benign tumors that comprise up to 90% of all branchial cleft anomalies. SBCCs typically present in the lateral neck along the anterior border of the upper third of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We describe a case of a SBCC presenting in an unusual location in the lower neck close to midline. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Jan 12;14(1). Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum Mutterhaus der Borromäerinnen gGmbH, Trier, Deutschland, Germany

The anatomy of the parapharyngeal space (PPS) is complex and the differential diagnosis of tumours in this area broad. Although primary tumours of the PPS account for only 0.5% of head and neck neoplasms and are benign lesions in 80% of the cases, the surgical management is crucial and needs specific planning and evaluation of CT and/or MRI scans. Read More

Case Rep Otolaryngol 2020 8;2020:8814071. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Second branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) are common congenital causes of neck swellings; however, isolated parapharyngeal space presentation is extremely rare, with only sporadic cases reported. Our objectives in this report are to describe a case and review different diagnostic and management strategies adopted in the current world literature. The case presented is a 26-year-old female with a large isolated parapharyngeal BCC extending to skull base in which first presenting symptoms were referred otalgia and painful side-to-side head rotation for months followed by odynophagia. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2020 Sep 13:145561320956482. Epub 2020 Sep 13.

Columbia Surgical Associates, 49477Spokane ENT, Spokane, WA, USA.

Branchial cleft anomalies are embryonic remnants of the branchial arches and are described as the second most common congenital neck mass. Depending on their extent, these anomalies are classified as a cyst, sinus, or fistula with branchial cysts being the most common. Branchial cysts deriving from the second branchial arch are by far the most common, accounting for approximately 95% of all cases. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Sep 6;13(9). Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust, London, UK.

A 1-week-old female infant presented with a transilluminating neck lump that increased in size with crying. The presumptive diagnosis was lymphatic malformation, but imaging raised the possibility of an abscess or necrotic tumour. A biopsy revealed a likely developmental cyst with local inflammatory change. Read More

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020 Jul 9;24(3):e347-e350. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital de Ninos Baca Ortiz, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador.

 Branchial cleft anomalies are the second most common congenital anomaly in children. However, some lesions may not develop clinically and are not diagnosed until adulthood. The recent literature of branchial cysts (BCs) in the adult population is really scanty. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2020 Nov - Dec;41(6):102623. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France. Electronic address:

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020 May 29;49(1):32. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades - Paris V University, Paris, France.

Background: First branchial cleft anomalies are rare, accounting for only 10% of all branchial cleft anomalies. We report an even more rare and unique case of a branchial cleft cyst with features of both first and second arch derivatives.

Case Presentation: A 6-year-old boy presented to us with a left conductive hearing loss associated with pre-tympanic keratin debris and an ipsilateral painful cervical mass. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2020 May;58(3):639-652

Division of Thoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 20115, USA. Electronic address:

Congenital entities sharing imaging characteristics with true pathologies occasionally are discovered incidentally in adults. These may occur in the neck, chest, abdomen/pelvis, or musculoskeletal systems. Although these incidental findings share imaging features with true pathologic processes, up-to-date knowledge and assessment with the most appropriate imaging modalities generally allow a distinction between congenital entities that may be safely dismissed and pathologic processes requiring further assessment and treatment. Read More

Clin Imaging 2020 Aug 15;64:1-6. Epub 2020 Feb 15.

Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Branchial cleft cysts are the most common lesions in the lateral neck with ectopic thyroid tissue found only rarely within these cysts. Over the years, multiple cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma arising from these ectopic thyroid tissues have been described in the literature with these cases sharing a normal thyroid gland on surgical and histological evaluation. Recently, however, there are three cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a branchial cleft cyst reported to be the result of metastasis from a thyroid primary. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 Feb;34(2):146-149

Department of Radiology and Medicine Imaging，Shanghai Children's Hospital，Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University，Shanghai，200040，China.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of multi-slice spiral CT （CT） and multi-planar reconstruction （MPR） in the diagnosis of children with parotid cleft deformity. The CT images of 55 cases of branchial cleft deformity confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. CT examination showed that 37 cases had strip-like, tubular fistula or cystic mass located in the anterior cervical triangle, anterior margin of sternocleidomastoid muscle, and 2 of them had bilateral fistula structure. Read More

AACE Clin Case Rep 2019 Nov-Dec;5(6):e365-e368. Epub 2019 Aug 14.

Objective: Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) is frequently caused by anatomic abnormalities, including branchial cleft cysts. Patients with AST are typically euthyroid, but thyrotoxicosis may occur. Thyroid antibodies are usually not present in AST. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Jan 19;37(1):40-51. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

High-frequency ultrasonography represents a promising tool for pediatric dermatologists. It is a noninvasive and harmless diagnostic technique that is especially appealing when working with children. It can be easily performed at the patient's bedside, avoiding diagnostic delays, sedation, or multiple visits. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 11 2;161(5):904-905. Epub 2019 Jul 2.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

J Craniofac Surg 2019 Jun;30(4):e295-e297

Department of Pathology, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

Cervical thymic cyst is rare lesions leading to cervical mass. As it is a rare entity, it might be confused with other congenital neck masses or neoplastic lesions. Preoperative diagnosis is almost impossible. Read More

Tunis Med 2018 Dec;96(12):888-892

Background: the amygdaloid cyst is a rare laterocervical cystic tumor arising from the second branchial cleft. It accounts for 2% of laterocervical tumors.

Aim: analyze the anatomo-clinical characteristics and discuss the management and therapeutic indications of second branchial cleft cysts. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2019 Sep;30(6):1772-1773

Department of Ear Nose and Throat, MedCare Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Second branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) are the most common type of branchial abnormalities and usually found high in the neck. Oropharyngeal presence of a BCC is very rare. The authors report a rare case of oropharyngeal, second branchial, multilocular, cleft cyst in a 9-year-old child (8. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2019 Jun 8;98(5):295-298. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

1 Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Research Institute for Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonbuk, Korea.

Clinically, it may be very difficult to differentiate between benign branchial cleft cyst (BCC) and malignant BCC with papillary carcinoma preoperatively. Radiological features were reviewed retrospectively between benign BCC and malignant BCC with papillary carcinoma using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images. All patients had only a mass on the right upper lateral neck without lesion in the thyroid gland. Read More

Pol J Radiol 2018 11;83:e204-e209. Epub 2018 May 11.

Department of Radiology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Cystic masses of the neck may represent a wide variety of pathological conditions. Among these, branchial anomalies are the commonest paediatric congenital lesions of the head and neck. This article intends to review this condition under the same headings, as well as facilitate their diagnosis with the help of appropriate radiological findings of patients diagnosed with these anomalies. Read More

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019 Jun 20;48(6):712-715. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Stomatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Branchial cleft cysts (BCC) are benign lesions caused by anomalous development of the branchial apparatus. This case report describes a 63-year-old woman with a 12 cm×12cm sized cystic mass located anterior to the manubrium sternum and sternum. MRI revealed a cystic lesion with a sinus tracking to the piriform sinus. Read More

Klin Onkol Summer 2018;31(4):296-300

Background: Primary branchiogenic carcinoma (BC) is an exceptional diagnostic entity. In most cases, suspicion of BC is confirmed to be a cystic lymph node metastasis of an occult primary tumor. Martin and Khafif therefore established diagnostic criteria, emphasizing above all the importance of a histologically assessed transformation of cystic lining epithelium into an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in one pathological lesion after the exclusion of a primary tumor. Read More

Radiol Med 2019 Mar 12;124(3):199-205. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Radiology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess CT and MR imaging findings of infection-free and benign second branchial cleft cysts (SBCCs).

Methods: Eleven patients with histopathologically confirmed infection-free and benign SBCCs underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and/or MR imaging. We assessed qualitative (presence and extent of wall thickening, degree of contrast enhancement of the thickened wall on CECT images, and signal intensity of the thickened wall on T2-weighted images) and quantitative (maximum thickness of the thickened wall) imaging findings. Read More

Clin Perinatol 2018 12 18;45(4):769-785. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of General Surgery, Greenville Health System, Greenville ENT Associates, 200 Patewood Drive Suite B400, Greenville, SC 29615, USA.

Congenital neck masses can be a developmental anomaly of cystic, solid, or vascular origin. They can also constitute neoplasms, including malignancies, although this is rare in the pediatric population. The history and examination can help quickly narrow the differential diagnosis. Read More

Presse Med 2019 Jan 1;48(1 Pt 1):29-33. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Hôpital d'instruction des Armées-Percy, service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, 101, avenue Henri-Barbusse, 92140 Clamart, France.

Cervical congenital malformations are relatively common in children. They can also be found in adults. The embryological development of the cervical region is closely related to the branchial clefts. Read More

J Clin Ultrasound 2018 Nov 4;46(9):582-584. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

Ectopic thyroid and fourth branchial cleft anomaly are rare congenital anomalies of the neck. This is a case report of the coexistence of these two rare congenital anomalies in a 1-year-old girl. She had ectopic lingual thyroid and asymptomatic abscess in the fourth branchial cleft cyst, which was found in ultrasonography carried out to evaluate congenital hypothyroidism. Read More