Oropharyngeal Presentation of a Second Branchial Cleft Cyst in a 5-year-old Child: A Rare Case Report

Common congenital neck abnormalities, second branchial cleft cysts, usually manifest as lateral neck masses. Oropharyngeal appearances, however, are uncommon and could be difficult to diagnose. We report a rare case of a second branchial cleft cyst in a 5-year-old boy who presented with acute-onset vomiting and was incidentally found to have a cystic mass in the posterolateral oropharynx. Imaging revealed a well-circumscribed nonenhancing cystic lesion, which was successfully excised transorally. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis. This case emphasizes how crucial it is to include branchial cleft cysts in the differential diagnosis of oropharyngeal masses, especially in patients who are young and in unexpected places.