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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Ex Vivo Culture of Pharyngeal Arches to Study Heart and Muscle Progenitors and Their Niche
Published on: July 20, 2015
[Cyst of the parapharyngeal space arising from the branchial arches]
H-P Dernis1, H Bozec, Ph Halimi
1Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-faciale, Hôpital Européen-Georges Pompidou, Université Paris V, Faculté Necker - Enfants Malades, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris.
Objectives:
We describe a rare case of parapharyngeal space cyst arising from the branchial arches.
Case Report:
We report the clinical and radiological (CT and MRI) findings. Surgical resection was performed via a transcervical approach.
Conclusion:
Branchial cysts arising from the second pouch are the most common benign neck tumors. A parapharyngeal location (type IV in Proctor's classification) is very rare, and only 24 cases have been reported. Based on our observations in this case and a review of the literature, we discuss the differential diagnoses and treatment options.
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