Lingual bronchogenic cyst is a rare congenital malformation, classified as a choristoma. It is lined by respiratory epithelium. Extrathoracic sites are rare and the tongue is an exceptional site.

The authors report two cases of bronchogenic cyst of the tip of the tongue in newborn infants. These two initially asymptomatic lesions gradually increased in size, leading to feeding difficulties in one case. MRI demonstrated well-demarcated, solitary, unilocular cystic images. Surgical resection was easily performed and histological examination concluded on bronchogenic cyst. An aberrant right upper lobe tracheal bronchus was also present in one case.

Lingual choristomas are rare and defined histologically according to the type of epithelium. The embryological origin of lingual bronchogenic cysts remains controversial. MRI is the imaging examination of choice to characterize these lesions, but the definitive diagnosis is based on histological examination. Early, systematic surgical enucleation of all congenital lingual cysts must be performed to prevent obstructive and infectious complications.