title: [Ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid:4 cases report and review of literature].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical feature,diagnostic and therapeutic methods of ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four cases of ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid in our hospital were reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The branchial fistula and cyst of four cases were adhered to thyroid,with unclear anatomical landmarks, the function of recurrent laryngeal nerve were bad before the operation in two cases. The nerve of four cases were retained, the function of thyriod and parathyroid gland were normal and no recurrence were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid is rare and is easier to be misdiagnosed and wrong treated. Surgical excision is effective for it and recurrent laryngeal nerve should be protected when performing the operation.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yichuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haung
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Longgang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005402:Fistula; D006801:Humans; D010280:Parathyroid Glands; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery