Torbiel boczna szyi czy przerzut raka płaskonabłonkowego

Cystic cervical mass is a difficult diagnostic challenge. Branchial cleft cysts are considered to be the most common cause of the cystic neck lesions. However, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper aerodigestive tract may send regional lymph node metastases that can also manifest clinically as a cystic tumor. This possibility should especially be considered in adult patients. Therefore, a more attentive pre- and postoperative diagnostics is necessary in patients over 40 years of age, presenting with a cystic cervical mass. In this article we present two cases of cystic neck masses in patients over 40 years old, that have been initially considered to be branchial cleft cysts and turned out to be malignant lesions in a course of diagnostics.