Congenital Neck Cysts
Congenital Neck Cysts: an Overview
A share of neck lumps are congenital, benign cysts. The right diagnosis separates needless worry 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.
Read the full Congenital Neck Cysts guide
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.
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.
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