A Rare Presentation of First Branchial Cleft Cyst in an Adult Female: A Case Report and Review
Keywords:
Branchial cleft cyst, lateral neck swelling, excision biopsy, congenital cyst, ENT surgeryAbstract
Branchial cleft cysts are congenital epithelial cysts resulting from the failure of obliteration of the branchial clefts during embryonic development. They often present as painless, fluctuant swellings in the lateral aspect of the neck and may lead to complications such as infection or compression of nearby structures if left untreated. This case report outlines the diagnosis, surgical management, and postoperative care of a 34-year-old female patient presenting with a left-sided neck swelling, later diagnosed and excised as a branchial cyst. The physical examination and imaging studies, including ultrasound and CT scan, suggested a first branchial cleft cyst. Fine needle aspiration cytology supported the diagnosis by revealing benign cystic contents. The goal of treatment is to achieve complete surgical excision of the cyst to prevent recurrence and associated complications.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Peterson LJ, Ellis E, Hupp JR, Tucker MR. Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 7th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2022.
Gadre KS, Wani N, Sadhwani S. Branchial anomalies: A review. J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2021;33(1):95–100.
De Serres LM, Sie KC, Richardson MA. Branchial cleft cysts and sinuses: A study of 210 patients. Laryngoscope. 2020;130(3):E62–E68.
Agaton-Bonilla FC, Gay-Escoda C. Diagnosis and management of branchial cleft cysts. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;138:110265.
Tsai CC, Huang SC, Huang EY, Huang CC. Diagnostic challenges in branchial cleft anomalies. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(12):3341–3346.
Torsiglieri AJ, DeSilva BW. Branchial cleft cysts in adults: Case report and literature review. Head Neck. 2019;41(4):1089–1094.
Al-Khateeb TH. Cervical cystic masses: a review. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018;76(8):1776–1783.
Quintanilla-Dieck L, Trinidade A, Johnson RF. Surgical management of branchial cleft cysts. Oper Tech Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;29(2):81–86.
Prowse S, Ludemann JP. The branchial cleft anomalies: diagnostic and surgical approach. J Pediatr Surg. 2017;52(5):765–769.
Branstetter BF, Weissman JL. Imaging of the neck. Radiol Clin North Am. 2017;55(6):1203–1216.
Bajaj Y, Ifeacho SN, Tweedie D, Jephson CG, Cochrane LA, Albert DM. Branchial cleft anomalies in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;90:9–14.
Wang W, Xu H, Zhang J, Jin Z. First branchial cleft anomalies: CT and MR imaging. Eur J Radiol. 2016;85(3):530–535.
Benson MT, Dalen K, Mancuso AA, Kerr HH, Cacciarelli AA, Mafee MF. Congenital anomalies of the branchial apparatus: embryology and pathologic anatomy. Radiographics. 2015;35(4):946–960.
Maran AGD, Lund VJ. Logan Turner's Diseases of the Nose, Throat and Ear. 11th ed. London: CRC Press; 2015.
Watkinson JC, Clarke RW. Scott-Brown’s Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. London: Hodder Arnold; 2014.
Benson ML, Mancuso AA, Kerr HH, Huckman MS. MR imaging of branchial cleft cysts. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014;203(1):92–97.
Yeo NK, Ha JG, Park CH, Yeo SG. Clinical and radiologic characteristics of branchial cleft cysts in children. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;6(1):44–48.
Deane SA, Telian SA. Surgical excision of branchial cleft anomalies: importance of facial nerve preservation. J Pediatr Surg. 2012;47(3):567–572.
Huoh KC, Blevins NH. Recurrent branchial anomalies: surgical management. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011;137(2):121–125.
Nicollas R, Guelfucci B, Roman S, Triglia JM. Congenital cysts and fistulas of the neck. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010;74(2):142–145.
Batsakis JG. Branchial cleft cysts, sinuses, and fistulae. Head Neck Surg. 2009;31(4):429–435.
Chen AY, Robb GL, Sykes JM. Branchial cleft cysts: A clinical review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;138(6):715–720.
Ford GR, Balakrishnan A, Evans JN. Branchial cleft and pouch anomalies. J Laryngol Otol. 2007;121(2):104–113.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.