Treatment Areas
Congenital Neck Cysts and Eagle Syndrome in Istanbul
Any lump discovered in the neck is worrying, yet a share of them are congenital, benign cysts. The right diagnosis separates needless anxiety from needed treatment.
Branchial cleft cysts
Branchial cleft cysts appear as soft, round, painless swellings in the neck. Although present from birth, they usually announce themselves around the twenties, once the material inside has accumulated enough to form a mass. They can swell up after an upper respiratory infection.
Malignant change is rare. If there is infection, antibiotics come first and surgery after. During the operation the cyst's tract is followed and removed with it, so that it does not recur.
Thyroglossal duct cysts
A thyroglossal duct cyst develops when the channel along which the thyroid migrates from the tongue base fails to close. It appears exactly in the midline of the neck, and moves when the tongue is stuck out. Ultrasound and MRI settle the diagnosis easily.
Because this channel passes through the hyoid bone, the operation removes the cyst together with its tract and the central part of the hyoid. Leaving the bone in place is what causes recurrence.
Eagle syndrome and lymph nodes
Eagle syndrome arises when the styloid process, a slender bone projecting from the skull base, is longer than usual. It can cause throat pain that worsens with swallowing, pain radiating to the ear or a foreign-body feeling. Mild complaints may need only observation and medication; where symptoms are pronounced, the elongated process is shortened surgically.
For enlarged neck lymph nodes the path is clear: examination, ultrasound and, where needed, needle biopsy. These steps decide which finding can simply be watched and which needs further work.
Frequently asked questions
Any lump that has not shrunk within two or three weeks, or is growing or hardening, deserves examination. Cysts are benign, but examination and ultrasound should say so, not guesswork.
Incisions are hidden in natural neck lines and usually fade with time. Removing the cyst completely, together with its tract, is also the key to preventing recurrence.
An elongated styloid process is more common than assumed; symptoms from it are rare. Diagnosis goes hand in hand with excluding other causes of similar complaints.
Medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Ayşenur Meriç Hafız, Professor of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery — August 2026 · About
Outcomes of surgical and medical procedures vary from person to person; please consult your physician for an assessment specific to you.
We are here for your questions
The practice is at Selenium Plaza in Beşiktaş. Message us on WhatsApp or call to arrange a visit. English-speaking patients are welcome.