Recognition of the congenital cystic masses of the face and neck is important because they are usually benign, and can be completely cured by surgical excision. We retrospective analized CT scan of 18 surgically proven congenital cystic masses of the face and neck. The cases included 5 thyroglossal duct cysts, 4 cystic hygromas, 5 dermoid cysts, 1 branchial cleft cyst, and 3 fissural cysts of the face. Of tive cases of thyroglossal duct cysts, CT showed either a well-marginated, rim enhancing unilocular cystic mass(n=3), or a diffuse but heterogeneous highly enhancing soft tissue mass(n=2). The latter two cases were confirmed later as infected thyroglossal duct cysts. Four cases of cystic hygromas were seen as either an irregularly marginated(n=3) or a well-marginated(n=1) rim enhancing multiseptated cystic mass with a fluid-fluid level. Five cases of dermoid cysts appeared as well-marginated rim enhancing unilocular ovoid masses. The content of each mass was predominantly fluid in four cases, of which additional solid components were found in two, and interspersed fat globules in one. One case was composed of a homogeneous fatty density. One case of branchial cleft cyst was in the anterior triangle near the left mandibular angle, and appeared as a well-marginated enhancing cystic mass with a thick rim. In this case displacement of the adjacent structures was noted also. All three cases of fissural cysts of the face were seen as a well-marginated, rim enhancing cystic mass, causing a smooth pressure erosion of the adjacent bones. We conclude that CT is useful for the evaluation of the congenital cystic masses of the face and neck, because it can differentiate various forms of the congenital lesions and is able to clearly reveal the relation of the mass to the adjacent structures.