Branchial cleft cyst

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A branchial cleft cyst is a mass (lump) that develops in the neck or just below the collarbone (clavicle). It is a type of birth defect.

Cleft sinus

Branchial cleft cysts form during development of the embryo when tissues in the neck and collarbone area (branchial cleft) fail to develop normally.

The birth defect may appear as open spaces called cleft sinuses, which may develop on one or both sides of the neck. A branchial cleft cyst may form from fluid drained from a sinus. The cyst or sinus can become infected.

Review Date: 08/18/2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.