Branchial Cysts in Salivary Glands

Abstract

Two patients (a 58-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman) had branchial cysts in the parotid gland, and the other patients had one in the submandibular gland. Branchial cysts usually occur in the lateral cervical area and are rare in salivary glands. Branchial cysts in salivary glands are classified as first branchial cleft cyst and second branchial cleft cyst depending on the site of origin.
First branchial cleft cysts are rarer than second branchial cleft cysts and usually appear in the preauricular area. The cysts are lined with stratified squamous epithelium, and scant lymphoid tissue is seen in the subepithelial area. Second branchial cleft cysts usually occur in the lower portion or superficial lobe of a parotid gland. They are lined with stratified squamous epithelium plus columnar or cuboidal epithelium. Beneath which is abundant lymphoid tissue with clear lymphoid follicles. Clinical and pathological examinations showed that the two parotid gland cysts were probably second branchial cleft cysts and the one in the submandibular gland was probably a first branchial cleft cyst.