title: Congenital midline cervical cleft: clinical approach to a congenital anterior neck defect.
abstract: Numerous malformations can affect the anterior part of the neck presenting at birth as a real diagnostic challenge for the pediatrician or the primary care physician who initially evaluate the baby. Congenital midline cervical cleft represents a rare defect of the midline neck, which is sometimes wrongly diagnosed as a thyroglossal duct anomaly, dermoid cyst, branchial cleft anomaly or "birthmark". A prompt clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment during early infancy are essential to ensure both functional and aesthetic outcome. We report a case of a female neonate with a midline cervical cleft diagnosed immediately after birth. The main features of other congenital anomalies of the anterior neck are also discussed referring to their embryologic origin.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice Letizia
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bedeschi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantarella
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amodeo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009333:Neck / Q000002:abnormalities*; D010641:Phenotype
keywords: craniofacial malformation; mentosternal dysraphia; midline cervical cleft; pediatrician