Laryngoscope 2017 Aug 3. Epub 2017 Aug 3.

Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

A 15-year-old boy was diagnosed with a cystic parotid mass, which was initially thought to be a first branchial cleft cyst. The mass was treated with antibiotics and fully resolved on examination and imaging. The mass returned, and a superficial parotidectomy was performed to remove the suspected branchial cleft cyst. Read More

Virchows Arch 2017 Jul 20. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Sikl's Department of Pathology, University Hospital Plzen, Medical Faculty in Plzen, Charles University in Prague, Edvarda Benese 13, Plzen, 305 99, Czech Republic.

There is a group of lesions in the head and neck region derived from branchial arches and related structures which, when inflamed, are characterized by the formation of cysts lined by squamous or glandular epithelium and surrounded by a heavy inflammatory infiltrate rich in germinal centers. In the thyroid, the main source of various structures which may cause diagnostic dilemma is the ultimobranchial body. To investigate the spectrum of such thyroid lesions, the consultation files were reviewed for thyroid samples containing pathological structures regarded to arise from the ultimobranchial body. Read More

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017 Jun 21;69(2):263-265. Epub 2016 May 21.

ENT Department Face and Neck surgery, Hospital August 20, 1953, University Hospital Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Thyroglossal duct cysts followed by branchial cleft anomalies are the most common congenital neck masses encountered in practice, second branchial cleft cysts and sinuses are the most common type (LaRiviere and Waldhausen in Surg Clin North Am 92(3):583-597, 2012). Although both abnormalities are common individually, but rarely seen associated in same patient as described in our case. Congenitalcervical anomalies are important to consider in the differential of head and neck masses in children and adults. Read More

Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2017 Apr;88(4):439-442

Milner MR. You're the flight surgeon: an unusual case of pharyngitis. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2017 28;26:102. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.

Auris Nasus Larynx 2017 Apr 13. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: Cancers found in the resected branchial cleft cyst are rare clinically but usually impose substantive diagnostic and treatment challenges for clinicians.

Methods: A 31-year-old man presented with a lateral neck mass that was suspected to be an inflammatory branchial cleft cyst. After excision, the pathologic specimen revealed a benign cystic appearance with a focus of undifferentiated carcinoma. Read More

Iran J Otorhinolaryngol 2017 Mar;29(91):117-120

Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Kebangsaan Medical Centre (UKMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .

Introduction: Most metastatic lymph nodes from head and neck malignancy are solid. Cystic nodes are found in 33% - 61% of carcinomas arise from Waldeyer's ring, of which only 1.8% - 8% originate are from the nasopharynx. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2017 Apr;92(4):e69-e70

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.

Head Neck Pathol 2017 Mar 28;11(1):48-54. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) 2017 Classification of Head and Neck Tumors ("Blue Book") will now include a new chapter on tumors and tumor-like lesions of the neck and lymph nodes, which was not included in the previous edition. Tumors and tumor-like lesions, including a variety of cysts and metastases, can arise in any component in the neck, including soft tissue, lymph nodes, and developmental remnants. The pathology and clinical features of metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck has changed dramatically in the last several years. Read More

Iran J Parasitol 2016 Oct-Dec;11(4):591-594

Department of Radiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

We report an unusual case of primary hydatid cyst of the mandibular angle without glands involvement, in the left supraclavicular region of the neck with no involvement of any other regions of the body. In July 2012, a 25-yr old woman, from Golestan Province, Northeast Iran was admitted to our ENT Clinic, with one-year history of a progressively increasing swelling, pain and gradually growing mass located in the left side of neck region. The patient was diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FANC) and histopathology examination. Read More

Semin Pediatr Surg 2016 Dec 31;25(6):338-346. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208062, New Haven, Connecticut 06510. Electronic address:

Head and neck anatomy is topographically complex and the region is densely populated by vital nerves and vascular and lymphatic structures. Injury to many of these structures is associated with significant morbidity and may even be fatal. A thorough knowledge of regional anatomy is imperative and complications need to be managed in a thoughtful directed manner. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2016 Oct;6(5):591-604

Department of Radiology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

Neck masses are frequently encountered in pediatric medicine, and can present a diagnostic dilemma for the clinicians involved. There are several means by which neck masses in children can be subdivided, for example by age at presentation, anatomical location including compartments and fascia of the neck, their classical appearance when imaged, or by etiology. When imaging children the clinicians must be mindful of radiation exposure and as such ultrasound (US) is often attempted first. Read More

Ann Nucl Med 2017 Feb 5;31(2):101-108. Epub 2016 Dec 5.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.

Objective: Patients presenting with cystic lesions in the neck without obvious signs of malignancy constitute a diagnostic challenge since fine needle aspiration is often insufficient and a diagnosis may not be reached until surgical resection/biopsy is performed. The differential diagnosis of a cystic cervical mass comprises a variety of benign conditions, but malignancy must be ruled out. We examined the diagnostic performance of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT to identify malignancy. Read More

Indian J Dermatol 2016 Nov-Dec;61(6):701

Department of Consultant Dermatologist, Skin Care and Laser Clinic, Nasik, Maharashtra, India.

Branchial cleft cyst, sinuses, and fistulae are among the most commonly encountered congenital anomalies in pediatric otolaryngic practice. They can present difficulty in diagnosis and surgical management. Here, I report a case of 14-year-old boy who presented with asymptomatic, congenital swelling located just below the jawline in the lateral part of the neck. Read More

N Engl J Med 2016 Oct;375(16):e33

Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY.

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2016 Nov 31;133(5):367-368. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Department of prosthodontics, AFMC Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Head Neck Pathol 2016 Oct 21. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 208023, USA.

Diagnosis of cystic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) lymph node metastasis at head neck region can be a challenge in the absence of known PTC history. The congenital cystic lesions of head neck, especially thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) and branchial cleft cyst (BCC), are major differential diagnoses in this clinicopathological scenario. The location of cyst and morphology of lining epithelium are critical clues for reaching correct diagnosis. Read More

Ann Chir Plast Esthet 2016 Oct 18;61(5):371-388. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Service de chirurgie orthopédique et plastique pédiatrique, CHRU Lapeyronie, 371, avenue du Doyen-Gaston-Giraud, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France. Electronic address:

Cysts and fistulae of the face and neck in children are formed before birth and correspond to the persistence of embryonic remnants that occur due to coalescence defects of embryonic buds or due to epidermal inclusion. They represent the most common pathological malformation of the face and neck. They may be separated according to their location into laterocervical cysts and fistulas or median cysts and fistulas. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 Sep;95(39):e4931

aDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: In fetuses who are predicted to be at risk of catastrophic airway obstruction at delivery, the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure is useful for securing the fetal airway while maintaining fetal oxygenation via placental circulation. Factors, including poor posture of the fetus and physician, narrow visual field, and issues of contamination in the aseptic surgical field, make fetal intubation during the EXIT procedure difficult. Herein, we report our experience of the usefulness of the GlideScope video laryngoscope (GVL) for intubation during the EXIT procedure. Read More

Adv Anat Pathol 2016 Sep;23(5):339-42

*Department of Pathology, Charles University, Medical Faculty and Charles University Hospital Plzen †Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Plzen and Charles University Hospital Plzen, Pilsen ‡Department of Pathology, Liberec Regional Hospital, Liberec, Czech Republic.

We report on an exceedingly rare lesion of the thyroid probably of a branchial cleft origin, which was not published in the world literature before. A 58-year-old woman underwent a total thyroidectomy for bilateral goiter. Grossly, there was one yellowish nodule sized 15 mm in the largest dimension found in the right lobe. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2016 Feb;30(4):322-3

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Aug 6;87:91-3. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114-3096, United States; Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address:

ANZ J Surg 2016 May 19. Epub 2016 May 19.

ENT Unit, Department of Surgery, Frankston Hospital, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 2016 Feb;119(2):118-24

In recent years, human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal carcinomas have been increasing. The first manifestation of these tumors is frequently as cystic metastasis to cervical lymph nodes that may precede recognition of the primary tumor, so, they often result in misdiagnosis as branchial cleft cysts. We report a case of cystic cervical lymph node metastasis of HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2016 Apr-May;95(4-5):154-6

Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

Ann Diagn Pathol 2016 Aug 14;23:58-61. Epub 2016 Mar 14.

Virginia Commonwealth System, Richmond, VA, USA. Electronic address:

Thyroid lymphoepithelial complexes (LECos) are rare, being reported in lymphoma, Graves-Basedow disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, pericarcinomatous thyroid or in the context of branchial cleft-like cysts. Here we report immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 5/6, P63 and TTF1 in 6 cases of thyroid LECos. Two cases had carbimazole treatment for hyperthyroidia and Graves disease. Read More

Pathol Int 2016 May;66(5):297-301

Department of Pathology, Nikko Memorial Hospital, Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan.

We report an extremely rare case of branchial cleft-like cysts in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The patient was a 77-year-old man with a growing mass in the anterior neck. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a cystic lesion with septum in the left thyroid and multiple small cystic lesions in the right thyroid. Read More

B-ENT 2016 ;12(1):67-71

Objective: Nasopharyngeal branchial cleft cysts are rare, and only case reports have been published. We present a patient whose nasopharyngeal cyst contained a malignant lymphoma, and we review previous reports of this condition.

Methods: Case report with a relevant literature review. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Oct 14;126(10):2270-5. Epub 2016 Apr 14.

Department of Radiation Therapy, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe initial presentations and idiosyncrasies in establishing the diagnosis for human papillomavirus-related (HPV(+) ) compared to HPV-unrelated (HPV(-) ) oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC).

Study Design: A single institution retrospective series derived from an institutional prospectively compiled database supplemented by chart review.

Methods: We reviewed consecutive OPC patients referred to an academic tertiary cancer center from 2009 to 2011. Read More

Case Rep Otolaryngol 2016 29;2016:3902974. Epub 2016 Feb 29.

Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Objectives. First branchial cleft anomalies (BCAs) constitute a rare entity with variable clinical presentations and anatomic findings. Given the high rate of recurrence with incomplete excision, identification of the entire tract during surgical treatment is of paramount importance. Read More

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2016 Apr;29(2):183-4

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (Schmidt); and the Departments of Surgery (Leal, McGill) and Radiology (Jacob), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, Texas.

Up to 20% of all congenital pediatric head and neck masses are branchial cleft cysts. Second branchial cleft cysts account for 95% of branchial anomalies, and fourth branchial cleft cysts are the rarest type. Their typical presentations include non-life-threatening symptoms, such as drainage, skin irritations, minor swelling, and tenderness. Read More

Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Feb 28. Epub 2016 Feb 28.

Chonnam National University Medical School & Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hwasun, South Korea.

Diagn Cytopathol 2016 Jul 9;44(7):561-7. Epub 2016 Mar 9.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Background: The separation of branchial cleft cysts from metastatic cystic squamous cell carcinomas in adults can be clinically and cytologically challenging. Diagnostic accuracy for separation is reported to be as low as 75% prompting some authors to recommend frozen section evaluation of suspected branchial cleft cysts before resection. We evaluated 19 cytologic features to determine which were useful in this distinction. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Sep 1;126(9):2147-50. Epub 2016 Mar 1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

Objectives/hypothesis: We present a new method of optimizing the results of surgery for branchial cleft anomalies based on the intraoperative injection of fibrin glue combined with methylene blue dye.

Study Design: Retrospective single-center cohort study.

Methods: The method was applied in 17 patients suffering from branchial anomalies. Read More

Oncol Lett 2016 Feb 10;11(2):1065-1068. Epub 2015 Dec 10.

Department of Oromaxillofacial Head and Neck Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China.

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are rare congenital cystic lesions arising as a development malformation in the trachea-bronchial system during the embryonic period. The cysts mostly occur in the mediastinum, with an extremely low morbidity rate in the oromaxillofacial-head and neck region. The age distribution of patients who present with BCs shows a significant predominance towards young individuals compared with the elderly. Read More

Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2015 Dec;50(12):768-9

Email:

Fogorv Sz 2015 Dec;108(4):127-30

Branchiogen anomalies represent a heterogeneous group of developmental abnormalities, they arise from incomplete obliteration of branchial clefts and pouches during embriogenesis. Clinically they can present as a cyst, fistula or sinus. Second cleft lesions account for 95% of the branchial anomalies. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016 Feb 29;81:60-4. Epub 2015 Dec 29.

Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Jeanne de Flandre Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Lille, France.

Objectives: Congenital midline cervical cleft is a rare developmental abnormality of the ventral neck of unclear etiology. It consists of a midline skin defect. This study reports a case series of 8 patients with congenital midline cervical cleft. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2015 Aug;29(15):1392-3

The patient complained of finding on the right side of the neck fistula with discharge nine years. In recently, fistula spills significantly increased compared with the previous. Special physical examination: Right sternocleidomastoid middle 1/3 front border is seen here in a small fistula, translucence jelly secretion were spilling out when squeezeing the fistula, no smell. Read More

Insights Imaging 2016 Feb 10;7(1):69-76. Epub 2015 Dec 10.

Department of Radiology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.

Unlabelled: The branchial arches are the embryological precursors of the face, neck and pharynx. Anomalies of the branchial arches are the second most common congenital lesions of the head and neck in children, with second branchial arch anomalies by far the most common. Clinically, these congenital anomalies may present as cysts, sinus tracts, fistulae or cartilaginous remnants with typical clinical and radiological findings. Read More

Med J Aust 2015 Nov;203(9):371-2

John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2015 Oct;94(42):e1758

From the Department of Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.

Branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) are also named lateral cervical cysts and widely acknowledged as being derived from embryonic remnants. Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) generally show microscopic features that are identical to those of BCCs, and rarely occur at unusual sites or organs.A case of multiple cysts arising in both lobes of the thyroid gland, thymus, and right parotid gland in a 41-year-old man is reported. Read More

AJP Rep 2015 Oct 7;5(2):e207-11. Epub 2015 Sep 7.

Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri.

Branchial cleft cysts are common causes of congenital neck masses in the pediatric population. However, neonatal presentation of branchial cleft cysts is uncommon, but recognizable secondary to acute respiratory distress from airway compression or complications secondary to infection. We report a 1-day-old infant presenting with an air-filled neck mass that enlarged with Valsalva and was not associated with respiratory distress. Read More

Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 2015 ;25(5):306-9

Department of Otolaryngology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, 65200 Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.

Hydatid cyst disease is a parasitic infestation caused by Echinococcus granulosus. It is transmitted via oral ingestion of eggs excreted by dog's stool. Liver and lungs are the most commonly involved organs. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Jun 15;126(6):1339-42. Epub 2015 Oct 15.

Department of Otolaryngology.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to describe an endoscope-assisted surgical technique for the excision of branchial cleft cysts and compare it to the standard approach.

Study Design: Retrospective case series review.

Methods: Twenty-seven cases described as branchial cleft excisions performed by a single surgeon at one academic medical center were identified between 2007 and 2014. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2015 Nov;39(11):1591-5

Departments of *Pathology †Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery ‡Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.

Although human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal carcinomas (HPV-OPCs) are generally regarded as "poorly differentiated," they actually maintain a close resemblance to the lymphoepithelium of the tonsillar crypts from which they arise: they are basaloid, exhibit minimal keratinization, and are often permeated by lymphocytes. In rare cases, the presence of cilia in a primary HPV-OPC and their persistence in lymph node metastasis can confound the distinction between a benign and malignant process. Three cases of ciliated HPV-OPCs were identified from the archives of The Johns Hopkins Head and Neck Pathology consultation service. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2015 Sep 29;9:208. Epub 2015 Sep 29.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kenyatta National Hospital, Hospital Road, Nairobi, 00202, Kenya.

Introduction: Complex embryological processes form the head and neck of humans. It is not flawless; remnants lead to sinuses or cysts, commonly in the head and neck region.

Case Presentation: We present the a case of an 8-year-old boy, a primary school pupil, from rural Kenya with chronic cough, wheezing, difficulty in breathing and dyspnea on exertion. Read More

J Endocrinol Invest 2016 May 24;39(5):529-35. Epub 2015 Sep 24.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital A. Meyer, University of Florence, Via Luca Giordano 13, 50132, Florence, Italy.

Background And Aims: Branchial abnormalities occur when there is disturbance in the maturation of the branchial apparatus during fetal development. Branchial anomalies are congenital lesions usually present in childhood, even if they can be diagnosed later for enlargement or infection. A correct diagnosis will lead to proper management: complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Jan 15;126(1):212-7. Epub 2015 Sep 15.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Objectives: To systematically review the current literature on treatment of third and fourth branchial pouch sinuses with endoscopic cauterization, including chemocauterization and electrocauterization, in comparison to surgical treatment.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.

Review Methods: We conducted a systematic search. Read More

Laryngoscope 2016 Jun 15;126(6):E224-E226. Epub 2015 Sep 15.

Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

We present a unique and challenging case of a remnant foreign body that presented to us in a child disguised as a strongly suspected congenital branchial cleft anomaly. This case entailed oropharyngeal trauma, with a delayed presentation as a retroauricular cyst accompanied by otorrhea that mimicked the classic presentation of an infected first branchial cleft anomaly. During surgical excision of the presumed branchial anomaly, a large wooden stick was found in the tract. Read More