A first branchial cleft anomaly within the parotid gland.

Although the parotid glands are affected more frequently by cysts and congenital lesions than other salivary glands, the benign multigerminal cyst arising from a duplication anomaly of the first branchial cleft within the parotid gland is extremely rare. Forty-two cases of this unusual cause of parotid swelling have been reported in the literature. An example of a first branchial cleft anomaly appearing clinically as a parotid tumor is reported.