Lymphoepithelial cyst of the upper esophagus

A Case Report of a Vallecular Cyst and Literature Review

Cysts in the vallecula are rare entities and seldom have been reported in the literature. However, these masses can have very important clinical implications. When they are small, they are usually asymptomatic. When they reach a large enough size, they can cause dysphagia, odynophagia, and acute airway complications. With the expanded scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, the proper diagnosis and management of vallecular lesions could become a routine part of oral and maxillofacial surgical practice and aid in further development of the specialty. This report describes the case of a benign lymphoepithelial cyst of the vallecula.