Submental midline branchial cleft cyst: a first case report in literature

Abstract

A branchial cleft cyst is a congenital abnormality typically located over the lateral aspect of neck. A 3 year old boy presented with a gradually progressive painless swelling below his chin since 1 year. CT scan demonstrated well defined cystic lesion in submental region. Excision was done and histopathology showed the cyst lined by stratified squamous epithelium and at places lined by pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium with subepithelial lymphocytes suggesting branchial cyst. Branchial cleft cysts should also be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in cystic midline lesions of the neck, if it’s not moving with deglutition and with tongue protrusion.