A Pedunculated Cervical Mass: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: A congenital cervical mass is a considerable health problem worldwide; however, accessory tragus (AT) in the neck is extremely rare. The cervical variant of AT or congenital cartilaginous rest of the neck (CCRN) is a rare anomaly related to the branchial arch located at the lateral of the neck that typically presents as an asymptomatic papule or nodule along the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. It is detected since birth or in the first few years of life. Diagnosis is based on the clinical characteristics of the lesion, surgical findings, and histopathologic studies. CASE REPORT: A young man with no underlying diseases or known congenital anomaly was referred by a dermatologist for an asymptomatic pedunculated papule in the left mid-cervical area. Physical examination reveals a firm and mobile papule with a size of 1*1 cm on the anterior middle 1/3 border of the SCM. Radiologic findings illustrated a mass nearby the SCM with a long tract beneath it extending upward. The lesion was finally resected, and during surgery, a long tract was discovered, and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a CCRN. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, the cervical variant of AT or CCRN should be considered in a differential diagnosis of benign masses in the neck.