SECOND BRANCHIAL CLEFT CYST MASQUERADING AS A CERVICAL ABSCESS

Second branchial cleft cysts are benign developmental cysts that are thought to arise from congenital remnants of the second branchial arch. While other branchial anomalies exist, they are much less common. Second branchial cleft cysts make up more than 95% of all branchial cleft anomalies. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who presented with a recurrent swelling over the lateral aspect of right side of the neck swelling, which had been present for one year. She was initially diagnosed to have cervical abscess and underwent drainage, was managed conservatively during the second episode after which definitive excision was performed. An exploration and excision were performed, and the histological diagnosis was a second branchial cleft cyst without signs of malignancy. Diagnosis is suspected based on physical examination, guided by imaging data, and confirmed by pathological examination. Treatment is surgical, with complete removal of the cyst being necessary to prevent recurrence.