Signs Of A Branchial Cleft Cyst And How It's Diagnosed

Diagnostic Imaging Tests

Diagnostic imaging tests are an important tool in diagnosing a branchial cleft cyst. The primary concern is making certain the lump is a relatively harmless cyst and not something more serious like a cancerous growth. The most common tests ordered are ultrasound, CT, and MRI scans. Of these three, the MRI gives the clearest image of the cyst. When doctors examine the scans, they hope to see a liquid-filled structure and not a solid lump. A cyst will usually have a well-defined, smooth oval shape without the irregularities of a cancerous growth. Another indicator of a cyst as opposed to cancer is the lack of independent blood supply to the structure.

Learn about another way in which a branchial cleft cyst is diagnosed now.