A case of branchiogenic cyst of nasopharynx in a child

Abstract

We report the case of a four-year-old boy who was diagnosed as having a nasopharyngeal tumor during the treatment of otitis media with effusion. He was referred to our institution with nasopharyngeal cystic tumor found by MRI. Polysomnography showed Apnea-Hypoxia Index of 4.0/h, indicating the patient had mild obstructive sleep apnea. The patient underwent tumorectomy and bilateral tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. The tumor was located medial of right internal carotid artery and reached to superior pole of tonsil along right torus tubarius. A yellowish white viscous fluid leaked out when the tumor was removed, and it turned out to be a cyst. Pathology leads the diagnosis of branchiogenic cyst. It was further classified as Bailey type IV in the 2nd branchial cleft cyst according to the site of lesion. After the one-year clinical follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence.