Nasopharyngeal Branchial Cysts—Diagnosis and Management: A Case Series

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal branchial cysts (NBCs) have been discussed in the literature in only a limited number of publications. Differing from Tornwaldt cysts, NBCs present laterally and arise from the fossa of Rosenmuller and may track superiorly within the bony confines of the Eustachian tube. Initially patients are asymptomatic but may present with aural fullness, unilateral conductive hearing loss, and serous otitis media as the cyst mass grows. Two of our three patients had the lesion incidentally identified at the time of assessment for another diagnosis. In this case series, imaging characteristics and response to treatment are reviewed. A literature search was performed to summarize the management options for this entity.

Keywords

nasopharyngeal branchial cysts - skull base - Tornwaldt cysts - mucus retention cysts - nasopharyngeal cysts - marsupialization

• References

• 1 Ali MY. Pathogenesis of cysts and crypts in the nasopharynx. J Laryngol Otol 1965; 79: 391-402
• 2 Nicolai P, Luzzago F, Maroldi R, Falchetti M, Antonelli AR. Nasopharyngeal cysts. Report of seven cases with review of the literature. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1989; 115: 860-864
• 3 Little JW, Rickles NH. The histogenesis of the branchial cyst. Am J Pathol 1967; 50: 533-547
• 4 Guggenheim P. Cysts of the nasopharynx. Laryngoscope 1967; 77: 2147-2168
• 5 Ben Salem D, Duvillard C, Assous D, Ballester M, Krausé D, Ricolfi F. Imaging of nasopharyngeal cysts and bursae. Eur Radiol 2006; 16: 2249-2258
• 6 Verma A, Sohail MA, al-Khabori M, Moosa M. Nasopharyngeal cyst of branchiogenic origin: report of a case and review of the literature. Ear Nose Throat J 2000; 79: 722-724 , 726, 730–731
• 7 Tsai TY, Su CY. Surgical technique of transoral marsupialization for the treatment of nasopharyngeal branchial cysts. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2010; 119: 336-341
• 8 Carrau RL, Myers EN, Johnson JT. Management of tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space. Laryngoscope 1990; 100: 583-589