Branchial cleft cyst manifesting as hypoglossal nerve palsy

✍ Scribed by Dr. Albert Gatot; Ferit Tovi; Dan M. Fliss; Ilana Yanai-Inbar

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 458 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2880130317

✦ Synopsis

Hypoglossal nerve palsy occurred in 2 patients with infected second branchial arch cleft cyst. This very unusual complication of the congenital anomaly has been related to the mechanical compression of the mass. Histologic features of the perineural coat were also suggestive for this etio-pathogenesis. HEAD i ? NECK 1991;13:249-250

Branchial cleft cysts are congenital lesions manifesting in the late childhood or in young adults. They usually become apparent following upper respiratory tract infections. Infected cysts may develop into abscesses and may be complicated by fistulas. Occasionally they may also transform to carcinomas.'

In this article we describe two cases of infected branchial cleft cysts associated with hypoglossal nerve palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this complication is a very unusual manifestation of the congenital anomaly.

CASE REPORTS

Case I. A 27-year-old man was referred to the Otolaryngology Department of the Soroka Medical Center because of recurrent, painful swelling of the neck, recently associated with difficulty