title: Unusual presentation of a first branchial cleft.
abstract: An atypical case of a first branchial cleft presenting with a cutaneous fistula and an epidermoid cyst of the external auditory canal is reported. The relevant embryology of the branchial apparatus is summarized, and variations of first branchial anomalies are discussed. The relationship with a congenital cholesteatoma is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Gaudemar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elmaleh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peuchmaur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: François
mesh_terms: D001934:Branchial Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000151:congenital; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000473:pathology*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant