Congenital fistula of the fourth branchial pouch

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 1998;255(6):322-4. doi: 10.1007/s004050050069.

Abstract

Between 1986 and 1995, 128 patients were treated for various head and neck congenital malformations at Saint-Luc University Hospital, Louvain. We report three cases of fourth branchial pouch cysts requiring surgical removal. One of these cases presented with a third branchial pouch remnant on the same side and subsequently a fourth branchial pouch sinus. To our knowledge, this is the first case published in the literature. A fourth branchial pouch sinus tract can become manifest clinically by recurrent episodes of neck abscess or acute suppurative thyroiditis (especially in infants). The tract can be identified with a barium swallow during the period of latency and hypopharyngeal endoscopy under general anesthesia. Total excision of the fistula with dissection up to the pyriform sinus with or without a left thyroid gland lobectomy and isthmectomy is the treatment of choice.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / etiology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Barium Sulfate
  • Branchial Region / abnormalities
  • Branchial Region / diagnostic imaging
  • Branchial Region / surgery
  • Branchioma / congenital*
  • Branchioma / diagnosis
  • Branchioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Branchioma / surgery
  • Child, Preschool
  • Contrast Media
  • Endoscopy
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / congenital*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Larynx / surgery
  • Pharynx / surgery
  • Recurrence
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Thyroiditis, Suppurative / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Barium Sulfate