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Where is the most common location for a branchial cyst in relation to the thyroid?
Suggested Answer: A
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Branchial cleft cysts are congenital epithelial cysts that typically occur laterally in the neck, often anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and lateral to the thyroid gland. The second branchial cleft cyst is the most common type and is found in the lateral neck region.
Medial (B) would be more consistent with thyroglossal duct cysts.
Anterior (C) or posterior (D) do not specifically describe branchial cyst location relative to the thyroid.
Reference Extracts:
Som PM, Curtin HD. Head and Neck Imaging. 5th ed. Elsevier, 2011.
Rumack CM, Wilson SR, Charboneau JW, Levine D. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Elsevier, 2017.
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12 comments · newest first
MY
Myong
3 days ago
I’m leaning towards B) Medial. It’s close to the thyroid.
EL
Elouise
8 days ago
I agree, A) Lateral makes sense. It's common there.
BE
Beckie
13 days ago
I think it's A) Lateral. Seems logical.
LO
Lonny
18 days ago
Really? I had no idea it was always lateral!
AU
Audry
23 days ago
Lateral makes the most sense, right?
ST
Stevie
28 days ago
Wait, I thought it could be medial too?
JU
Justine
1 month ago
Definitely A, I've seen it in practice.
MA
Marget
1 month ago
It's usually lateral to the thyroid.
LI
Lizette
1 month ago
I’m pretty confident it’s lateral, but I should double-check my notes just in case.
GE
German
2 months ago
I feel like I might confuse the locations. Wasn't there something about them being medial in some cases?
KR
Kristel
2 months ago
I remember practicing a question about branchial cysts, and I think the answer was lateral too.
AR
Arthur
2 months ago
I think branchial cysts are usually found laterally, but I’m not completely sure.