Background and Aim: The swellings in head neck region are of great clinical significance. The athology of swellingsmay vary from cysts, benign tumours and malignancy to metastatic tumours. So, these neck swellings are a great dilemma to surgeon for diagnosis and treatment. The aim of present study is to diagnose the different types of cysts out of total head neck swellings because these cysts are commonly present in head neck region.

Materials and Methods: In this study 100 patients of different cystic neck swelling were studied over a period of five years from 2014-2016 to compare the findings withclinical diagnosis, FNAC and histopathological report for itsdiagnostic reliability. This study was done in surgerydepartment of mcgann teachin hospital and Medical College Hospital shimogha. Patients of 1-70 yrs age were taken for study. History of patients was taken; clinical examination of swelling was done followed by FNAC and histopathology examination of postoperative specimen of neck swelling.

Results: The analyzed data was presented by various tables. Out of these 100 cases of neck swellings 40 cases were of various cysts. 16 were males and 24 were females.The male, female ratio was 1:1.5. Age range was 1–70 years with maximum frequency in the 1- 30yrs of age. Clinical, cytological and histopathological diagnosis was done in all the cases. Out of the cases studied 50% were thyroglossal cyst, 25% were Epidermoid cyst, 15% were dermoid, 10 % of total were brachial cyst, retention cyst and ranula.

Conclusion: It is concluded that head and neck swellings are very common conditions encountered. Our study found that simple clinical examination followed by FNAC and histopathology is simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive technique to diagnose different types of head and neck swellings. In this study out of different head and neck cystic swellings thyroglossal cyst was most common followed by dermoid cyst.