A Case of Lateral Cervical Cyst Excised After 27 Years of Symptomatic Treatment

Abstract

Lateral cervical cyst is a relatively rare cystic lesion in the head and neck region. There are two theories as to the location of its origin: branchial arches or glandular epithelium, but there is no established theory. We report a case with a lateral cervical cyst which presented gradual growth caused by long-term symptomatic treatment. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of swelling in the lateral cervical region about 30 years earlier. The lesion was diagnosed as benign, and so puncture and aspiration were continued in another hospital for 27 years. At presentation, the lesion measured 80 × 60 × 20 mm, and was soft elastic and fluctuant without tenderness, in the right side of the cervical region. MR images revealed a cystic lesion compressing the jugular vein in the range of the omohyoid muscle to the submandibular region in front of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The large cystic lesion was extirpated under general anesthesia. Histopathologic examination of the surgical specimen revealed glandular epithelium and lymphoid follicles, and the diagnosis was a lymphoepithelial cyst. There has been no recurrence during the 3 years since surgery.