A 3-year-old child presents with a left-sided neck mass anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The mass is fluctuant, non-tender, and ultrasound shows a unilocular cystic lesion. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A Thyroglossal duct cyst
- B Cystic hygroma
- C Branchial cleft cyst ✓
- D Dermoid cyst
Correct answer: C. Branchial cleft cyst
Explanation
Second branchial cleft cyst is the most common branchial cleft anomaly, presenting as a lateral neck mass anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, typically in children or young adults. It is usually unilocular on imaging. Thyroglossal duct cyst is midline. Cystic hygroma is multilocular and often posterior triangle. Dermoid cyst is midline and does not move with swallowing.
Reference: Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.