BACKGROUND Branchial cleft anomalies constitute a frequently encountered and commonly non-lethal disease in otolaryngology, and result from aberrant embryonic development. The third branchial cleft fistula is one of the four known specific types of branchial cleft anomalies, and always presents as recurrent neck abscess and suppurative thyroiditis. Here, we report an unexpected death due to sev...

INTRODUCTION First branchial cleft anomalies account for less than 8% of all branchial abnormalities. Their rarity and diverse presentations have frequently led to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. In a trend towards specialisation/subspecialisation, first branchial cleft duplication anomalies, with their varied clinical manifestations, may possibly present to an Otology, Head and Neck ...

Branchial cleft anomalies are congenital developmental defects that typically present as a soft fluctuant mass or fistulous tract along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. However, branchial anomalies can manifest atypically, presenting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Error or delay in diagnosis can lead to complications, recurrences, and even life-threatening emergenc...

OBJECTIVE To discuss the computed tomographic (CT) and clinical findings of those entities that may present as recurrent deep neck infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twelve patients with recurrent deep neck infections and CT scans were retrospectively identified since 1990. Their CT scans and medical histories were reviewed. The diagnosis was pathologically confirmed in all cases. RESULTS The...

We evaluated spleens (n = 26), appendices (n = 10) and branchial cleft cysts (n = 6) for TdT-positive cells in pediatric patients. In spleen, appendix and branchial cleft cysts the range of TdT-positivity was 0-13, 0-96 and 0-6 TdT+ cells/hpf, respectively. In spleens, scattered TdT+ cells were seen most frequently in periarteriolar lymphoid sheath regions.