Branchial cleft cyst of the nasopharynx: case report and literature review

ABSTRACT

Nasopharyngeal cysts are found either at the roof or the lateral wall of the nasopharynx. They include Rathke's pouch cyst, Tornwaldt's cyst from the pharyngeal bursa, and branchial cleft cyst. The presence of second branchial cleft cyst in the nasopharynx is extremely rare. We report the case of a 46-year-old man with nasopharyngeal cyst that was confirmed histologically as branchial cyst. It was resected through a transoral endoscopic approach with no evidence of remnants or recurrence