Oropharyngeal second branchial cleft cyst

Summary 

Second arch branchial cleft cysts although a frequently occurring branchial anomaly is almost always located in neck. Its presence in oropharynx is extremely rare. We report a rare case of second branchial cleft cyst measuring 1cm×1.1cm in oropharynx which presented with nasal obstruction and difficulty in swallowing. This cyst was excised and biopsy revealed squamous lined epithelial wall with lymphoid aggregation which is characteristic finding of branchial cleft cyst. Six months follow up of the child was uneventful and there was no recurrence. A review of theories for genesis of branchial cleft cysts is also done.

Keywords: Second arch branchial cleft cysts, Branchial cysts, Neck mass, Tonsillar mass, Oropharyngeal mass, Congenital neck mass