[Branchiogenic parotid cysts]

The authors describe 4 cases of branchiogenic cyst of the parotid gland which belong to the rarest developmental disturbances in the region of the first brachial arch. In the first case, there was a cyst formation with articulate surface; the other cysts were solitary ones. In two patients, the upper lobule of gland was removed together with the cyst. In the third case, simple etirpation was performed. In the last case, the posterior part of the parotid gland was resected together with the cyst. The embryological and anatomical acquaintances and the histopathological criteria relating to the diagnosis of this congenital cyst formation are outlined in the present paper.