Branchial Cleft Cyst
A branchial cleft cyst sits on the side of the neck, usually along the front edge of the large muscle that runs from behind the ear to the collarbone. It forms from a pocket of tissue left over from the branchial clefts, structures that shape the face, ears and neck before birth and normally disappear.
Many go unnoticed until the teenage years or early adulthood. The lump is smooth and painless, and it can swell, redden and become sore after a cold or sore throat. Some children instead have a tiny opening in the skin of the neck that leaks clear fluid. The same kind of leftover tissue can form a small pit in front of the ear.
An infected cyst is treated with antibiotics first. Once it is quiet, the cyst and its tract are removed completely so it does not return. See branchial cleft cyst excision.
