Branchial cleft (pouch) anomalies: a review of 42 cases

A retrospective review was made of the medical records of 42 patients, who had had branchial cyst, sinus, or fistula, and who had been seen and treated at our hospitals. Three of these lesions were considered to have originated from the first branchial cleft, 36 from the second branchial cleft and/or pouch, and 3 from the fourth branchial pouch. There were no sex and side of presentation differences in the second branchial anomalies. However, the first branchial anomalies occurred predominantly in females, and the fourth branchial anomalies were predominantly left-sided. Pathological findings were of squamous epithelium and subepithelial lymphoid follicles in most branchial remnants. Skin, adenexa, and cartilage were observed in two first branchial cleft sinuses (Work's classification Type II). Columnar epithelium (respiratory type) was observed in a second branchial pouch cyst and a second branchial fistula. All the patients with first or fourth branchial anomalies had previous infections with incision and drainage procedures, whereas only two out of 36 patients with second branchial anomalies had had previous incision procedures. All patients after complete removal of branchial anomalies have no recurrence.