First branchial cleft fistula associated with external auditory canal stenosis and middle ear cholesteatoma

First branchial cleft anomalies manifest with duplication of the external auditory canal.

This report features a rare case of microtia and congenital middle ear and canal cholesteatoma with first branchial fistula. External auditory canal stenosis was complicated by middle ear and external canal cholesteatoma, but branchial fistula, opening in the zygomatic root and a sinus in the helical root, may explain this feature. A canal wall down mastoidectomy with canaloplasty and wide meatoplasty was performed. The branchial cleft was excised through parotidectomy and facial nerve dissection.

It should be considered that canal stenosis in such cases can induce cholesteatoma formation in the auditory canal and middle ear.