RT Book, Section
A1 Shah, Ashish
A1 Sobolewski, Brad
A1 Mittiga, Matthew R.
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1177127409
T1 Branchial Cleft Cyst
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1177127409
RD 2021/01/17
AB A  branchial  cleft  cyst  arises  from  the  incomplete  obliteration  of  one  of  the  four  branchial  clefts  during  embryogenesis.  As  obliteration  of  the  clefts  occurs,  a  portion  may  remain,  forming  a  cystic  space  with  an  epithelial  lining  and  no  connection  to  the  skin  or  pharynx.  The  anatomic  location  of  a  branchial  cleft  cyst  depends  on  the  specific  arch/cleft  involved.  Involvement  of  the  1st  cleft  may  result  in  a  cyst  in  the  region  of  the  parotid  gland,  the  preauricular  or  postauricular  area,  or  inferior  to  the  angle  of  the  mandible.  Second  cleft  anomalies  represent  70%  to  90%  of  cysts  and  may  be  found  along  the  anterior  border  of  or  deep  to  the  sternocleidomastoid  muscle,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  carotid  arteries.  Third  and  4th  arch/cleft  anomalies  are  rare.  A  cyst  usually  presents  clinically  as  a  lateral,  tender  neck  mass  due  to  acute  infection  and  enlargement  usually  in  association  with  an  upper  respiratory  infection.