Anomalies of the first branchial cleft are rare and constitute around 8% of all malformations of the branchial apparatus. A case of a 69-year-old man with a branchial cleft cyst localized in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland is described. The case is presented not only because of the rare localization, but mainly because of an unusual postoperative course. In the short postoperative period after a radical surgical resection the tumour emerged again, that suggested recurrence of the cyst. The resected tumour imitating a giant deposit was actually a large fragment of hyaline tissue which accumulated during an anomalous process of healing. The authors also described mechanisms of formation, localizations, diagnostic methods and therapeutic options for anomalies of the first branchial cleft.