Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cysts in dogs and cats from pharyngeal remnants - what to know
By Nelson, Laura L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pharyngeal pouch and cleft remnants in the dog and cat: a case series and review.
Plain-English summary
In some dogs and cats, leftover tissue from their early development can form cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs. A study looked at eight pets that had these cysts located under the skin in areas like the head and neck, near the salivary glands, and around the thyroid. The cysts were lined with a specific type of tissue, and the best way to treat them was through surgery, which successfully removed them. This information can help veterinarians identify these cysts when they see similar lumps in small animals. Overall, the treatment worked well, and the pets recovered after surgery.
Abstract
Remnants of the pharyngeal apparatus can (rarely) form cysts. This retrospective case series describes clinical and histologic findings of such lesions. Clinical and histology databases were searched for cases of pharyngeal remnants. Eight patients were diagnosed with cysts located subcutaneously in the head and neck, adjacent to the submandibular salivary gland, near the thyroid, and in the mediastinum. Cyst linings included ciliated epithelium, and surgical excision was curative. Knowledge of pharyngeal development is useful for their characterization. Clinicians should consider pharyngeal remnants as differentials for cystic lesions in small animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22267169/