Branchial cleft cyst

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Branchial cleft cyst, also branchial cleft remnant, is a benign congenital lesion of the head and neck.

General

  • Benign congenital thingy in the lateral neck.[1]
  • Most common cystic neck lesion in young adults.[2]
  • Treatment: excision.

Gross

  • Lateral neck mass.

Image - clinical:

Microscopic

Features:

  • Cystic space lined by squamous epithelium - usually.
    • +/-Inflammation.
  • Connective tissue:
    • +/-Adipose tissue.
    • +/-Cartilage.
    • +/-Bone.
    • +/-Muscle.

DDx:

Images

IHC

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Right Neck Mass, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA):
- Benign squamous cells and debris admixed in a background of inflammatory cells. 
- Moderately cellular specimen.

Comment:
The differential diagnosis includes branchial cleft cyst and epidermal inclusion
cyst. Clinical correlation is required.

See also

References

  1. URL: http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site663/mainpageS663P0.html. Accessed on: 15 March 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Pietarinen-Runtti, P.; Apajalahti, S.; Robinson, S.; Passador-Santos, F.; Leivo, I.; Mäkitie, AA. (Feb 2010). "Cystic neck lesions: clinical, radiological and differential diagnostic considerations.". Acta Otolaryngol 130 (2): 300-4. doi:10.3109/00016480903127450. PMID 19593684.
  3. Park, J.; Kwon, SY.; Kim, NH.; Baik, SH.; Choi, DS. (Mar 2010). "Papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a branchial cleft cyst.". Thyroid 20 (3): 347-9. doi:10.1089/thy.2009.0124. PMID 20187788.