구개편도에서 발생한 새성낭종

Branchial anomalies are the most common cause of congenital lateral neck masses. Second branchial anomalies account for 90% of all branchial anomalies, and cysts are more common than sinuses and fistulas. Branchial cysts frequently occur close to the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle. However, their development in oropharynx is relatively rare. We experienced a case of branchial cyst in palatine tonsil presenting with throat discomfort and hemorrhage after vomiting. Histological examination revealed that the mass is filled with lymphoid aggregation, lined with squamous epithelium, which was a distinctive feature of branchial cleft cyst. The cyst was assumed to arise from a second branchial arch based on anatomic location. We made a report of a branchial cleft cyst within a palatine tonsil with a review of literature. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2010;21:123-126)