Definition
A first branchial cleft anomaly forms from the incomplete closure of the ventral portion of the first branchial cleft. These anomalies may present as cysts, sinuses, or fistulas, depending on the degree of cleft closure. A cyst is an encapsulated, epithelium-lined sac without any connections to the external environment. A sinus presents as a blind sac with a single connection to the external environment, typically the external auditory canal. A fistula is a patent tract that consists of two openings, typically the external auditory canal and the anterior triangle of the neck.
Epidemiology
Branchial cleft anomalies are the second most common cause of congenital neck masses, preceded in incidence only by thyroglossal duct cysts. Second branchial cleft anomalies are the most common of the branchial remnants, followed by first cleft...
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Fordham, M.T., Lambert, P.R. (2013). First Branchial Cleft Anomalies. In: Kountakis, S.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23499-6_636
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23499-6_636
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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