Branchial cleft cysts in adults. Diagnostic procedures and treatment in a series of 18 cases

Purpose Branchial cleft anomalies may be presented as branchial cysts, fistulas, or sinuses. Purpose of this paper is to present the diagnostic procedures and the treatment in a series of branchial cleft cysts. Methods Eighteen patients with branchial cleft cysts were surgically treated. All of them were subjected in laboratory examinations with ultrasonography, CT or/and MRI, and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Complete excision was the treatment in all cases. Results Eight patients had Type I, seven Type II, two Type III, and one a Type IV cyst. In all cases the surgical removal was successful and after 1 to 7 years post-surgical follow-up, no recurrences have been developed. Conclusions Branchial cleft cyst diagnostic procedure must be the same as for other neck swellings. FNAC is very useful for the diagnosis and the surgical approach must ensure safe and complete cyst removal in order to avoid intraoperative complications and recurrences.