Ectopic congenital bronchogenic cyst accompanied by infection appearing in the cervical region of an elderly female patient: A case report

Abstract

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are rare congenital cystic lesions arising as a development malformation in the trachea-bronchial system during the embryonic period. The cysts mostly occur in the mediastinum, with an extremely low morbidity rate in the oromaxillofacial-head and neck region. The age distribution of patients who present with BCs shows a significant predominance towards young individuals compared with the elderly. The current study reports the case a 70-year-old female who presented with a painful mass in the right cervical region. Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound showed a heterogeneous hypodense cystic lesion accompanied by infection. A mass of gaseous density was observed on repeat CT following antibiotic therapy. The pathological examination after complete resection revealed a BC, which can also be easily misdiagnosed as common congenital cervical cysts, such as a branchial cleft cyst or a thyroglossal duct cyst, among others. There was no recurrence or any discomfort during the 34-month follow-up period.