A Case of Second Branchial Cyst in Retropharyngeal Space, Appearing as Dyspnea and Dysphagia / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

The authors report the clinical features of a huge retropharyngeal second branchial cyst in a 53-year-old woman. The patient showed acute exacerbation of dyspnea and dysphagia. On endoscopic examination and computed tomography (CT), a cyst-like lesion narrowing the oropharynx was observed in the right retropharyngeal space. However, a retropharyngeal abscess was also suspected on some CT images. A cystic mass was found and removed completely via exploration by trans-oral approach. According to the literature review, a branchial cleft anomaly mimicking retropharyngeal abscess is very rare.