Question:easy
The most common site of a branchial cyst is:
The most common site of a branchial cyst is:
Show Hint
Think anterior triangle, upper third of the SCM muscle.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Posterior border of sternocleidomastoid
- Anterior border of sternocleidomastoid
- Digastric muscle
- Omohyoid muscle
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Branchial cleft cysts arise from incomplete obliteration of the embryonic branchial apparatus and surface as a smooth, painless mass in the lateral neck of a young patient.
Step 2: Anatomically they sit in the anterior triangle, hugging the upper one third and the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Step 3: Lesions tied to the posterior border, such as cystic hygroma, and reference points like the digastric or omohyoid muscles do not describe the usual branchial cyst location.
Step 4: The most frequent site is therefore the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.\[\boxed{\text{Anterior border of SCM}}\]
Step 2: Anatomically they sit in the anterior triangle, hugging the upper one third and the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Step 3: Lesions tied to the posterior border, such as cystic hygroma, and reference points like the digastric or omohyoid muscles do not describe the usual branchial cyst location.
Step 4: The most frequent site is therefore the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.\[\boxed{\text{Anterior border of SCM}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
