In most cases, a branchial cleft cyst isn’t dangerous. However, the cyst can drain and cause skin irritation. Cysts can also become infected, causing difficulty with swallowing and breathing.

A branchial cleft cyst is a birth abnormality that occurs on one or both sides of the neck. This atypical tissue may form fluid-filled sacs or passages that drain fluid on the neck surface.

A branchial cleft is also called a cleft sinus. It is a lump or cyst that develops in your neck or near your ... but your child's doctor may cut and drain the area near the branchial cleft first.

In most cases, a branchial cleft cyst isn’t dangerous. But it may cause skin irritation, skin infection, or — in very rare adult cases — cancer. Read more about branchial cleft cysts .

That said, branchial cleft cysts are one of the most common forms of neck masses or lumps, especially in children," the clinic's website notes. While benign, meaning noncancerous, ...

One of the endocrinologists I work with, John Palmer DO, recently saw a patient with a left-sided thyroid cyst. She had had a thyroid ultrasound at an outlying hospital and then another one done ...

Once branchial cysts begin growing, doctors will advise immediate removal to prevent further infection. The cyst rarely returns after removal, says the Cleveland Clinic, and the surgery will ...

A branchial cyst, a.k.a. a branchial cleft cyst, is a small, fluid-filled sac that an look like a lump under the skin on the side of your neck, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Tennis legend Serena Williams says she recently underwent surgery to remove a branchial cyst “the size of a grapefruit” from her neck. Williams said she found the lump back in May and ...