MRI appearances of Cervical accessory tragus- a rare Entity.

Abstract

Congenital cartilaginous rests of the neck, also known as cervical chondro-cutaneous branchial remnants or cervical accessory tragi, are rare developmental anomalies derived from branchial arch remnants. They are evident from birth and with time shows progression in size. On clinical examination, the nodules are firm in consistency, nontender on palpation, and exhibited features suggestive of a benign nature. They are characteristically observed as small, dome-shaped, skin-covered nodules lying along the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The accessory auricle also shows some associations with congenital syndromes. Surgical excision continues to be regarded as the definitive and most effective modality of treatment. Diagnostic imaging is although rarely done, but plays a crucial role in determining its morphology and extension into the deeper tissues. So, radiologists should be aware of this entity and its imaging features. We present a case of a small pedunculated lesion in a young patient, with MRI features suggestive of congenital cartilaginous rest of the neck.