title: Endoscopic cauterization of fourth branchial cleft sinus tracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic cauterization as definitive treatment for fourth branchial cleft sinuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review with follow-up questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten children (age range, 10 months to 10 years) with fourth branchial cleft sinuses treated with endoscopic cauterization between 1995 and 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recurrence of neck infections after endoscopic cauterization of fourth brachial cleft sinus tracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven of the 10 patients treated with endoscopic cauterization of the fourth branchial cleft sinuses showed no recurrence with an average follow-up of 3 years. Three of the patients were unavailable for follow-up, but medical records of the hospital showed no additional admissions for those patients for neck masses. No morbidity of the procedure was identified. All patients were discharged the day of surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic cauterization of fourth branchial cleft sinuses appears to be an effective alternative to open excision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75235, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Verret
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McClay
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biavati
authors.forename: Orval
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D001934:Branchial Region / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome