General Medical Information

Nasopharyngeal Cysts

Sharen J. Knudsen
Byron J. Bailey

Three nasopharyngeal cysts have been described—intraadenoidal, extraadenoidal, and branchial cleft cysts. They manifest as purulent nasal discharge, pain in the throat, and conductive hearing loss from chronic eustachian tube dysfunction. Intraadenoidal cysts arise from the median pharyngeal recess and manifest as small openings on the adenoid bed. Extraadenoidal cysts are located deep in the pharyngobasilar fascia and are derived from the pharyngeal bursa. A cuff of granulation tissue rostral to the pharyngeal tubercle is the main physical finding. A mass in the nasopharynx is rare with this cyst. Treatment is marsupialization of the cyst. Branchial cleft cysts are derived from the first and second pharyngeal pouches. The cysts usually are paired and located on the lateral walls of the nasopharynx. Treatment is excision.