[Branchial cleft carcinoma from cleft cyst: report of one case].

Branchial cleft carcinoma is a rare malignancy, there still exist some controversies regarding to the differentiation of branchial cleft carcinomas. This article is aimed to familiarize clinicians with the presentation and treatment of the tumour and explores its origin. A 41-year old man who was seen with a large lesion of branchial cleft carcinoma with a slowly growing mass in the area of the left parotid gland was reported. The histological finding of dysplastic epithelium was next to direct invasive carcinoma. The diagnosis of a branchial cleft carcinoma requires the fulfillment of strict criteria. This case supports the origin of the carcinoma as being from an epithelial-lined cyst.