BACKGROUND Treatment of fistulas arising from the third branchial cleft includes endoscopic cauterization or open cervical fistulectomy.Both approaches are associated with recurrence rates of 14%-18%,and possibly grea...BACKGROUND Treatment of fistulas arising from the third branchial cleft includes endoscopic cauterization or open cervical fistulectomy.Both approaches are associated with recurrence rates of 14%-18%,and possibly greater rates when the fistula has been treated operatively beforehand.Treatment of fistulas arising from the third branchial cleft is associated with an inordinate recurrence rate.Recurrence may be multifactorial and related to incomplete resection of all of the anatomical elements of the fistula.AIM To present a new approach that involves complete resection of the recurrent fistula by a combined therapeutic approach.METHODS Here,12 adult patients diagnosed with recurrent third branchial cleft fistulas underwent a combined therapy assisted by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy to identify and resect the entry site of the fistula into the pyriform sinus.The fistulous opening into the pyriform sinus was identified by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy.The application of intubation with a guidewire by pharyngoscopy,in addition to the removal of the partial excision of the thyroid cartilage,allowed complete resection of the opening and all parts of the fistula tract.RESULTS All of the internal openings of the fistulas in the pharynx were found and easily identified by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy.All of the 12 patients underwent complete resection of the recurrent fistula by the combined therapeutic approach.There were no postoperative complications such as parapharyngeal abscess or wound infection,injury or dysfunction of the recurrent laryngeal or superior laryngeal nerves.The pharyngeal edema had degraded,and the pharyngeal wound healed postoperatively within 1 wk.Laryngeal endoscopy and voice analysis were performed on the 14th d post-operatively.Vocal cord movements did not change.The characters of voice for jitter,shimmer,and normalized noise energy were all within normal limits.In addition,no recurrences were observed during the 13-60 mo follow-up period.CONCLUSION It can be concluded that the proposed combined therapy is associated with excellent results,minimal morbidity,and no recurrence.展开更多
Branchial arch anomalies can arise from the four first branchial arches, but the most encountered cases are from the second one. Second branchial arch cysts and abscesses occur mainly in older children or young adults...Branchial arch anomalies can arise from the four first branchial arches, but the most encountered cases are from the second one. Second branchial arch cysts and abscesses occur mainly in older children or young adults while fistulae are discovered in young children. We report a case of complete second branchial arch fistula of Bailey III type with adult complaints of painful swelling and local reddishness followed by spontaneous discharge and disappearance of complaints. Diagnosis was based on ultrasound and confirmed by CT scan, with the classic “beak sign” visible on both exams. Three cases were encountered in the family, with no otologic or kidney symptoms, which is quite different from the classical branchiootorenal syndrome which associates severe inner ear and kidney congenital anomalies.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Treatment of fistulas arising from the third branchial cleft includes endoscopic cauterization or open cervical fistulectomy.Both approaches are associated with recurrence rates of 14%-18%,and possibly greater rates when the fistula has been treated operatively beforehand.Treatment of fistulas arising from the third branchial cleft is associated with an inordinate recurrence rate.Recurrence may be multifactorial and related to incomplete resection of all of the anatomical elements of the fistula.AIM To present a new approach that involves complete resection of the recurrent fistula by a combined therapeutic approach.METHODS Here,12 adult patients diagnosed with recurrent third branchial cleft fistulas underwent a combined therapy assisted by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy to identify and resect the entry site of the fistula into the pyriform sinus.The fistulous opening into the pyriform sinus was identified by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy.The application of intubation with a guidewire by pharyngoscopy,in addition to the removal of the partial excision of the thyroid cartilage,allowed complete resection of the opening and all parts of the fistula tract.RESULTS All of the internal openings of the fistulas in the pharynx were found and easily identified by flexible fiber-optic pharyngoscopy.All of the 12 patients underwent complete resection of the recurrent fistula by the combined therapeutic approach.There were no postoperative complications such as parapharyngeal abscess or wound infection,injury or dysfunction of the recurrent laryngeal or superior laryngeal nerves.The pharyngeal edema had degraded,and the pharyngeal wound healed postoperatively within 1 wk.Laryngeal endoscopy and voice analysis were performed on the 14th d post-operatively.Vocal cord movements did not change.The characters of voice for jitter,shimmer,and normalized noise energy were all within normal limits.In addition,no recurrences were observed during the 13-60 mo follow-up period.CONCLUSION It can be concluded that the proposed combined therapy is associated with excellent results,minimal morbidity,and no recurrence.
文摘Branchial arch anomalies can arise from the four first branchial arches, but the most encountered cases are from the second one. Second branchial arch cysts and abscesses occur mainly in older children or young adults while fistulae are discovered in young children. We report a case of complete second branchial arch fistula of Bailey III type with adult complaints of painful swelling and local reddishness followed by spontaneous discharge and disappearance of complaints. Diagnosis was based on ultrasound and confirmed by CT scan, with the classic “beak sign” visible on both exams. Three cases were encountered in the family, with no otologic or kidney symptoms, which is quite different from the classical branchiootorenal syndrome which associates severe inner ear and kidney congenital anomalies.