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J Pak Med Assoc 2018 May;68(5):797-800

Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

Cervical thymus cyst is a rare entity and resembles lymphangioma or branchial cleft cyst therefore, presents as a diagnostic challenge. It has a slight male predominance and presents on the left side of the neck in up to 70% of cases. It is a painless mass that progressively increases. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2017 Sep;31(18):1444-1445

We report a rare case of first branchial cleft cyst arising from the nasopharynx. A 47-year old woman with a six-month-history of right ear stuffy and hearing loss was studied. Electronic nasopharyngeal examination revealed a mass in the nasopharynx of this case. Read More

Intern Med 2018 May 18. Epub 2018 May 18.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Japan.

Acta Otolaryngol 2018 May 15:1-4. Epub 2018 May 15.

b Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.

Background: Distinguishing branchial cleft cysts (BCCs) from cystic metastases of a human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is challenging. Fine needle aspirates (FNAs) from cystic metastasis may be non-representative, while reactive squamous cells from BCC can be atypic. Based on cytology and with the support of HPV DNA positivity many centers treat cystic metastasis oncological and thus patients are spared neck dissection. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 May;53(5):381-384

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Kunming Children's Hospital; Head and Neck Disease Treatment Center, Kunming 650228, China.

To discuss the misdiagnosis of pyriform sinus fistula and to better understand this kind of illness. The analysis was based on twenty-eight patients with congenital pyriform sinus fistula aged from 11 months to 14 years, with the median age of 5 years, and who were surgically treated from January 2013 to January 2017 in Kunming Children's Hospital.Twenty patients were misdiagnosed in other hospital. Read More

Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2018 May 7;28(2):209-226. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.

Salivary gland diseases in children are uncommon, and the relative incidence of pathologies is different than in adults. This article presents a comprehensive review of congenital and acquired disorders that affect the major salivary glands in the pediatric population, highlighting the imaging findings that are important in defining the appropriate diagnosis or narrowing of the differential diagnosis. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2018 Mar 30. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of second branchial cleft anomalies, and to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of branchial cleft cysts.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016.

Results: Among 25 patients with second branchial cleft anomalies, in 23 patients (92. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2017 16;41:383-386. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

Maxillo-Facial Surgery Unit, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.

Introduction: Branchial cleft cysts are benign lesions caused by anomalous development of the branchial cleft. Cases that arise in the lateral neck region are often misdiagnosed, resulting initially in inappropriate management.

Case Presentation: We describe a 32-year-old woman with a swelling on the right side of her neck and no pain during palpation or neck motion. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Feb;53(2):81-85

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijng 100050, China.

To summarize the clinical characteristics and therapeutic experiences of the middle ear teratoma in infants. Three cases of middle ear teratoma, from 2012-2015 in Beijing Friendship Hospital were analyzed. The three cases all developed slowly and presented unilateral otorrhea and hearing loss. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 19;2017:1807056. Epub 2017 Dec 19.

Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Even though branchial cleft cysts are currently accepted as a congenital anomaly, there is often a long delay until clinical presentation; branchial cleft cysts classically appear in the second to fourth decade of life. Our observation of their occurrence in three pregnant women encouraged us to contemplate a possible hormonal influence.

Methods: Immunohistological analysis was performed for the evaluation of the estrogen receptor alpha (ER) in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of 16 patients with a diagnosis of branchial cleft cyst, with three of them being pregnant. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Mar 27;275(3):767-773. Epub 2017 Dec 27.

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 6423906, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Aim: Solitary cystic masses of the lateral neck in an adult patient can pose a diagnostic dilemma. Malignancy must be ruled out since metastases arising from H&N cancers may mimic the presentation of benign cystic masses. Only a small number of studies have investigated the diagnostic management and malignancy rate of clinically benign solitary cervical cystic lesions. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2017 Oct;52(10):760-765

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 511080, China.

To investigate the relationship between Work Ⅱ type of congenital first branchial cleft anomaly (CFBCA) and facial nerve and discuss surgical strategies. Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with CFBCA who were treated from May 2005 to September 2016. Among 37 cases with CFBCA, 12 males and 25 females; 24 in the left and 13 in the right; the age at diagnosis was from 1 to 76 ( years, with a median age of 20, 24 cases with age of 18 years or less and 13 with age more than 18 years; duration of disease ranged from 1 to 10 years (median of 6 years); 4 cases were recurren after fistula resection. Read More

Diagn Cytopathol 2018 Apr 19;46(4):331-335. Epub 2017 Oct 19.

Department of Pathology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.

The majority of cystic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the neck have been shown to be metastatic tumors from tonsillar SCCs associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV). Recent studies have demonstrated cytokeratin (CK)7 involvement in the development of HPV positive SCC, but no report has been issued on its simultaneous expression in primary tonsillar and metastatic tumor with cystic change. We present a case of HPV positive tonsillar SCC of a 42-year-old male that initially manifested as a cystic neck mass expressing CK7, CK19, and p16 in primary and metastatic tumors. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2017 Dec 28;38(12):2351-2356. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Otolaryngology (C.-H.K.), Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Background And Purpose: Branchial cleft cyst is a common congenital lesion of the neck. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ethanol ablation as an alternative treatment to surgery for branchial cleft cyst.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2006 and October 2016, ethanol ablation was performed in 22 patients who refused an operation for a second branchial cleft cyst. Read More

Head Neck Pathol 2018 Jun 6;12(2):202-209. Epub 2017 Sep 6.

Department of Basic Pathology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8513, Japan.

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma (EHT) is a rare benign neoplasm of the lower neck suggesting branchial origin. Despite use of the term thymoma in the nomenclature, there is no evidence of thymic origin or differentiation. It affects middle-aged adults with a remarkable male predominance. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2017 Sep 4;12(3):628-631. Epub 2017 Jul 4.

Department of Radiology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, 2100 Magome, Iwatsuki, Saitama 339-8551, Japan.

Congenital dermoid fistulas of the anterior chest regions (CDFACRs) consist of a skin orifice at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle with fistulas extending caudally in the subcutaneous tissue near the sternoclavicular joint. We report 2 pediatric CDFACR cases with pathognomonic sonography findings. By using sonography, we could diagnose the fistulas as CDFACRs by focusing on their location and direction and could reveal the distal side for complete resection. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2017 Aug;52(8):597-603

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Provincial Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China.

To investigate the usefulness and effectiveness of multi-slice spiral computerized tomographic fistulography (MSCTF) in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital fistula of neck. Thirty-four patients with thyroglossal fistulasor branchial cleft fistulas who were initial treated from July 2008 to August 2015 in Fujian Provincial Hospital were retrospectively analyses. Thirteen males and 21 females patients aging from 3 to 46 years old with a median age of 37 were included. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Apr 3;128(4):998-1001. 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 Sep 20;471(3):393-400. 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

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2017 Jun;52(6):470-471

Department of oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.

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;26:102. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

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

Auris Nasus Larynx 2018 Apr 14;45(2):328-331. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

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

J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017 Jun 15;75(6):1209-1215. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

Professor and Department Head, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyungpook National University, Jung-Gu, Daegu, Korea. Electronic address:

Purpose: Although a retroauricular (RA) approach has been proposed for excision of a second brachial cleft cyst (BCC), no studies have performed a direct comparison of the results of the RA approach and those of the conventional transcervical approach. We evaluated the surgical outcomes of the RA approach under direct vision and demonstrate its benefits compared with the conventional transcervical approach for excision of a second BCC.

Patients And Methods: From January 2012 to May 2016, we enrolled 30 consecutive patients with a second BCC who underwent surgical excision as a primary treatment into the present prospective case-control study. Read More

B-ENT 2017;13(1 Suppl 27):57-60

Plunging ranula with prestyloid parapharyngeal space, masticator space, and parotid gland extension.

Introduction: Ranulas develop from mucous extravasation secondary to sublingual gland duct obstruction or trauma. Plunging ranula usually dive into the submandibular space. 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 (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 2017 Sep 21;11(3):301-305. 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

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2016 Sep;30(17):1359-1362

Department of Otolaryngology,Guangdong General Hospital,Guangdong Academy of Medical Science.

To sum up and conclude manifestation of congenital first branchial anomaly(CFBCA).The clinical data of 56 patients from 2005 to 2015 in our hospital were retrospective reviewed.Manifestation:mass without pain(26. 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

Med Mal Infect 2016 Dec 15;46(8):453-454. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Service d'ORL, centre hospitalier de Valence, 179, avenue du Maréchal-Juin, 26000 Valence, France.

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

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016 08 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:

Ethiop Med J 2016 Jul;54(3):145-7

Cysts commonly occurring in the neck include thyroglossal cyst and dermoid cysts in the midline, cystic thyroid nodules, branchial cysts and cystic Hygroma in the lateral neck. Hydatid cyst disease is commonly seen in the right lobe of the liver, the lung and rarely in other parts of the body. In general, cysts in the neck are not common in the second decade of life. Read More

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