Epithelial cyst in the posterior triangle of the neck: atypical branchial cyst or cystic lymph node metastasis?

Publication

Epithelial cyst in the posterior triangle of the neck: atypical branchial cyst or cystic lymph node metastasis?

Journal Paper/Review - Jan 12, 2014

Vital Domenic, Huber Gerhard, Pezier Thomas F, Rössle Matthias, Probst Rudolf, Widmer Gian-Marco

Citation

Vital D, Huber G, Pezier T, Rössle M, Probst R, Widmer G. Epithelial cyst in the posterior triangle of the neck: atypical branchial cyst or cystic lymph node metastasis?. Case Rep Otolaryngol 2014; 2014:912347.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Case Rep Otolaryngol 2014; 2014

Publication Date

Jan 12, 2014

Issn Print

2090-6765

Pages

912347

Brief description/objective

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.