Diagnosis of Branchial Cleft Cyst
Generally, the diagnosis takes the medical history, physical examination, and ancillary tests into consideration. These include a CT scan, MRI scan, and an ultrasound. These cysts can develop and show their presence at any age. In majority of the cases, they are found to occur in childhood or early adulthood. They are often found to be associated with urinary tract infections. They can spontaneously fall back or persist. Quite commonly, they become infected, painful, and cause drainage through the skin.

For diagnosis, the doctor first and foremost inquires about urinary tract disorders and hearing problems as branchial cleft cysts can be expressions of Branchio-Oto-Renal syndrome. He also focuses on any kind of rise in the risk for head and neck malignancies. The cysts are soft, non-tender, and mobile masses. They give rise to skin discoloration only when infected. The doctor conducts the physical examination of the cysts too, to rule out other reasons behind the occurrence of the mass in the neck. The ultrasound test can confirm the presence; hence, it is necessary to be done.