Hypoglossal nerve palsy in the presence of a branchial cyst

Abstract EN

We present an unusual case of a 20-year-old woman with a left-sided infected branchial cyst causing an ipsilateral 12th nerve palsy.

This resolved upon excision of the cyst.

Branchial cysts, infected or otherwise, should be high in the differential of a lateral cystic neck mass.

This and other cases discussed demonstrate that the presence of cranial nerve palsies does not necessarily indicate a neoplastic cause.