A case of branchial (lympho-epithelial) cyst, illustrating the value of ultrasound in diagnosis of cervical swellings

A Rare Case of Parotid Swelling Presenting as Branchial Cleft Cyst

First brachial cleft cyst arise due to incomplete fusion of first and second brachial arches. It is classified into type 1, which is thought to arise from the duplication of the membranous external ear canal and are composed of ectoderm only, and type 2 that have both ectoderm and mesoderm which presents as parotid swelling. As it is rare it is easily misdiagnosed and mismanaged. First branchial cleft cyst are rare causes of parotid swellings as in this case reports.

Branchial cysts within the parotid salivary gland

Cystic lesions within the parotid gland are uncommon and clinically they are frequently misdiagnosed as tumours. Many theories have been proposed as to their embryological origin. A 20-year retrospective review was undertaken of all pathological codes (SNOMED) of all of patients presenting with any parotid lesions requiring surgery. After analysis seven subjects were found to have histopathologically proven parotid branchial cysts in the absence of HIV infection and those patients are the aim of this review. Four of the most common embryological theories are also discussed with regard to these cases, as are their management.

Lympho-epithelial cysts: a maxillofacial surgeon's perspective

Cervical swellings are referred to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and may subsequently be diagnosed as lympho-epithelial cysts. The clinical presentation of such swellings appears to differ from that seen in other specialties also treating these cysts in that a larger proportion of lympho-epithelial cysts presenting to our specialty are infected, which complicates the diagnosis and also the subsequent management. We present our recent experience of 5 patients who underwent excision of a lympho-epithelial cyst, all of which were infected on initial presentation and four of which were associated with concurrent ipsilateral dento-alveolar infection. The fifth case presented with rapid development of a cervical swelling in the immediate post-natal period. As these cysts contain abundant lymphoid tissue as an integral part of the lymph drainage system of the head and neck, we propose that the management of an infected lympho-epithelial cyst should include a full clinical and radiographic examination of the oral cavity for a possible focus of infection and indeed any patient awaiting surgery for a non-infected cyst would benefit from an examination of the mouth and treatment of any sites of chronic infection.

Lymphoepithelial cyst of the parotid gland

A case of a lymphoepithelial cyst presenting as a parotid tumour is described. Aspects of diagnosis and management are discussed, as well as current theories on the origin and development of lymphoepithelial (branchial) cysts.

Lingual abscess: the value of ultrasound in diagnosis

A case of lingual abscess is presented. The sparsity of physical signs made ultrasound imaging an invaluable investigation in the diagnosis.

Ultrasonographic study of the relation of metastatic nodes to the carotid artery

Ultrasonographic studies of the neck were performed in four patients with metastatic lymph nodes that exhibited limited mobility or fixation to the surrounding tissues on palpation to obtain information about the relationship of nodes to the carotid artery. Comparison of the ultrasonograms with the operative findings disclosed that when a metastatic lymph node adhered to the carotid artery, the lymph node pulsated with flattening of the carotid artery and the echoes between the metastatic lymph node and carotid artery were attenuated.