Squamous cell carcinoma arising in branchiogenic cyst: branchial cleft carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma that developed in branchial cleft cyst in a 53-year-old male is described. The tumor was focally invasive. The tumor fulfilled criteria advocated by Martin for substantiating carcinoma as primary in the branchial cleft cyst. The patient has survived for 4.5 years after radical neck dissection and radiation without manifesting primary or recurrent tumor locally or elsewhere. One of the major criteria in diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma as primary tumor in the branchiogenic cyst is to prove that it has arisen in normal epithelial lining [2, 3]. In our case there is transition of the tumor from normal squamous epithelial lining of the cyst to malignancy.