Differential diagnosis of branchial cleft cysts

• Branchial cleft cyst type 1
• Branchial cleft cyst type 2
• Branchial cleft cyst type 3
• Branchial cleft cyst type 4

Approach to the differential diagnosis of branchial cleft cysts:

Type	Prevalence	Course	Location	Symptom
First	5%	External auditory canal to parotid	External auditory canal/parotid	Otorrhea
Second	90%	Tonsil to low neck	Between sternocleidomastoid muscle and submandibular gland
Third	Rare	Hypopharynx to supraclavicular	Post triangle, mandibular angle to mediastinum with 50% connecting to thymus	Thymic cyst
Fourth	Rare	Pyriform sinus to thyroid to low neck	Pyriform sinus to left thyroid	Recurrent thyroiditis