A Case of a Primary Branchiogenic Carcinoma with a Synchronous Tonsil Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Branchiogenic carcinoma (BC), which is defined as squamous cell carcinoma arising from a branchial cyst, was first described by Volkmann in 1882. This rare disease is regarded as hypothetical, and remains a controversial disease entity. Among the diagnostic criteria of BC, the key point is the histologic demonstration of a cancer developing from the wall of an epithelial-lined cyst in the lateral site of the neck. In previous literature, many authors argued that this malignancy is actually cystic metastasis from oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of a 49-year-old female who was diagnosed as a primary BC patient with a synchronous tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. Although this case did not meet the traditional diagnostic criteria because of existing tonsil cancer, we could diagnose these diseases as primary malignancies, since the transition zone was clearly seen, and there was no lymph node component in the histopathologic examination.