TY - JOUR
T1 - Head and Neck Cystic Lesions
T2 - A Cytology Review of Common and Uncommon Entities
AU - Salas, Sandra Vazquez
AU - Pedro, Katie
AU - Balram, Amrita
AU - Syed, Sarah
AU - Kotaka, Kent
AU - Kadivar, Ana
AU - Eke, Benjamin O.
AU - McFarland, Madison
AU - Sung, Michelle
AU - Behera, Niranjan
AU - Dubner, Benjamin G.
AU - Maleki, Zahra
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background: Cystic lesions of the head and neck are a diagnostic challenge since they are seen in the clinical presentation of a wide variety of conditions. Herein, common and uncommon entities that present as cystic lesions in the head and neck are reviewed. Summary: In this study, peer-reviewed articles were selected using the database PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Emphasis was placed on peer-reviewed articles that discuss the cytomorphology and differential diagnosis of entities that present as cystic lesions of the head and neck. In the anterior neck, both benign and malignant neoplasms can present, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), thyroid adenomatoid nodule, parathyroid cysts, and thyroglossal cysts. In the lateral neck, branchial cleft cyst, PTC, ectopic thyroid cyst, and squamous cell carcinomas (human papilloma virus and non- human papilloma virus-related) are common. Age over 40 years raises the possibility of malignancy. In the deep neck, mostly benign cystic entities occur such as a pleomorphic adenoma, paraganglioma, schwannoma, branchial cyst, epidermal inclusion cyst, and lymphoepithelial cyst. Lesions with squamous cell features can pose diagnostic dilemmas. Conclusion: Cytologic examination of head and neck cysts can provide valuable information regarding the nature of the cystic lesions. Information about anatomic site and clinical history can assist with the differential diagnoses. Ancillary studies can improve the diagnosis in some cases. Each case should be evaluated very carefully since there are a wide variety of congenital conditions, infectious/inflammatory conditions, benign neoplasms, and primary and secondary malignancies presenting as a cystic mass in the head and neck.
AB - Background: Cystic lesions of the head and neck are a diagnostic challenge since they are seen in the clinical presentation of a wide variety of conditions. Herein, common and uncommon entities that present as cystic lesions in the head and neck are reviewed. Summary: In this study, peer-reviewed articles were selected using the database PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Emphasis was placed on peer-reviewed articles that discuss the cytomorphology and differential diagnosis of entities that present as cystic lesions of the head and neck. In the anterior neck, both benign and malignant neoplasms can present, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), thyroid adenomatoid nodule, parathyroid cysts, and thyroglossal cysts. In the lateral neck, branchial cleft cyst, PTC, ectopic thyroid cyst, and squamous cell carcinomas (human papilloma virus and non- human papilloma virus-related) are common. Age over 40 years raises the possibility of malignancy. In the deep neck, mostly benign cystic entities occur such as a pleomorphic adenoma, paraganglioma, schwannoma, branchial cyst, epidermal inclusion cyst, and lymphoepithelial cyst. Lesions with squamous cell features can pose diagnostic dilemmas. Conclusion: Cytologic examination of head and neck cysts can provide valuable information regarding the nature of the cystic lesions. Information about anatomic site and clinical history can assist with the differential diagnoses. Ancillary studies can improve the diagnosis in some cases. Each case should be evaluated very carefully since there are a wide variety of congenital conditions, infectious/inflammatory conditions, benign neoplasms, and primary and secondary malignancies presenting as a cystic mass in the head and neck.
KW - Bethesda
KW - Congenital/ developmental cysts
KW - Cytology
KW - Fine-needle aspiration
KW - Head and neck
KW - Head and neck cyst
KW - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
KW - Human papilloma virus
KW - Salivary gland cytology
KW - Thyroid
KW - Thyroid cytopathology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85133000871&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85133000871&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000525144
DO - 10.1159/000525144
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35717936
AN - SCOPUS:85133000871
SN - 0001-5547
VL - 66
SP - 359
EP - 370
JO - Acta cytologica
JF - Acta cytologica
IS - 5
ER -