title: Case report: a branchial cleft anomaly presenting as an oropharyngeal mass.
abstract: Branchial anomalies are common cervical pathologic entities encountered in the field of otolaryngology and are typical in the pediatric and young adult populations. In most cases, these anomalies present as a cyst, sinus, or fistula in a rather stereotypical fashion. When a branchial anomaly deviates from the classic presentation, an improper diagnosis and inadequate management are more likely to occur, leading to an increased recurrence rate. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl with an incidental finding of a right posterior oropharyngeal wall mass, distinctly separate from the tonsillar fossa, which was found on pathologic analysis to be a branchial cleft anomaly. The theories regarding the pathogenesis of branchial anomalies are presented, along with other cases of atypical branchial anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Phoenix Campus, 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA. mullin.david@mayo.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merz
mesh_terms: D001934:Branchial Region / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009960:Oropharynx; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*