Bilateral second pharyngeal cleft cysts in 2 calves on the same farm

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Pharyngeal cleft cysts (PCCs) are rare congenital defects originating from anomalous embryonic development of pharyngeal clefts.
• These cysts typically present as unilateral, soft, fluctuant structures on the ventral neck and are often diagnosed in mature animals across various species.

Observation:

• This report details two cases of bilateral second pharyngeal cleft cysts in two calves from the same farm, with no shared pedigree.
• The cysts were located on the ventral neck, a common site for pharyngeal cleft cyst presentation.

Findings:

• Histopathology revealed typical cyst lining of pseudostratified columnar to squamous, partially ciliated epithelium.
• The occurrence in two geographically linked, unrelated calves suggests a potential localized environmental or genetic factor, deviating from the typically sporadic nature of PCCs.

Implications:

• These findings highlight PCCs as a crucial differential diagnosis for ventral neck cystic structures in cattle and other species.
• The report signifies the first instance of geographically linked bilateral second pharyngeal cleft cysts in veterinary medicine, prompting further investigation into potential contributing factors beyond sporadic development.