An unusual lateral neck cyst with the combined features of a bronchogenic, thyroglossal, and branchial cleft origin.

Soft tissue cystic masses arising in the neck in children are commonly of embryologic origin and often surgically excised. Depending on location and histology, they can be classified as thyroglossal duct, branchial cleft, or rarely bronchogenic in origin. We present an unusual case of an infant with a lateral neck mass that communicates with the midtrachea. The histologic appearance is that of a combination of the features seen in cysts of branchial cleft and thyroglossal duct origin. The possible embryologic development of such a lesion is discussed.