Case Report: Resolution of Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy Following Aspiration of a Branchial Cyst

Cranial nerve palsies caused directly by branchial cysts is a rare entity. We report a case of hypoglossal nerve palsy in a 47-year-old female with a right anterior neck mass presenting with symptoms of speech disturbances, altered tongue sensation and deviation on protrusion. An ultrasound scan showed a cystic lesion highly suspicious for a branchial cyst, which was confirmed with a head and neck MRI. An ultrasound guided aspiration of the cyst resulted in resolution of the nerve palsy in our patient. There have been cases reported in literature whereby the nerve palsies resolve following surgical excision of the branchial cyst.