Complete second branchial cleft anomaly presenting as a fistula and a tonsillar cyst: an interesting congenital anomaly.
Branchial cleft anomalies make up 30% of all pediatric neck masses, but complete second branchial cleft anomalies are extremely rare. We report an unusual case of a complete second branchial cleft anomaly that presented as a draining neck fistula and a tonsillar cyst in an otherwise healthy 3-month-old girl. At the age of 7 months, the patient had been experiencing feeding difficulties, and there was increasing concern about the risk of persistent infections. At that point, the anomaly was excised in its entirety. Our suspicion that the patient had a complete second branchial cleft anomaly was confirmed by imaging, surgical excision, and histopathologic analysis.
Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, 3901 Beaubien St., Detroit, MI 48201. pthottam@gmail.com.
Prasad John
PJ
Thottam
Samba S
SS
Bathula
Janet M
JM
Poulik
David N
DN
Madgy
D001934:Branchial Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery