B-mode and Color Doppler Imaging of Different Types of Branchial Cleft Cysts in Children. A Multicenter Study and Review of the Literature.

Branchial cleft cysts are frequently incorrectly diagnosed and ignored in the differential diagnosis. Thus, the diagnosis is often delayed, resulting in the mismanagement of affected patients. A branchial cyst should be suspected in any patient with a swelling in the lateral aspect of the neck, regardless of whether the swelling is solid or cystic, painful or painless. The use of ultrasonography can dramatically help clinicians with distinguishing branchial cleft cysts from other similar lesions of the head and neck.