Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T22:43:56.515Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Magnetic resonance imaging of branchial cleft abnormalities: illustrated cases and literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2009

C J Black
Affiliation:
Medical School, Newcastle University, UK
J T O'Hara
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK
J Berry
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK
A K Robson*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A K Robson, Consultant Otolaryngologist/Head and Neck Surgeon, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, CA2 7HY, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

We report two cases of branchial cleft abnormalities investigated using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background:

There appears to be no clear imaging technique that is universally recommended for imaging branchial cleft abnormalities. Options include fistulography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography.

Method:

Case reports and literature review.

Case reports:

Two cases, although not unusual in themselves, are described to illustrate the use of magnetic resonance imaging to define the anatomy and to assist surgical planning.

Conclusion:

Magnetic resonance imaging is able to accurately depict the extent and course of branchial cleft abnormalities, and in the current cases could have been relied upon to determine the necessary surgical procedure. Branchial cleft abnormalities are sufficiently rare for magnetic resonance imaging to be recommended as the first-line imaging modality.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Schroeder, JW Jr, Mohyuddin, N, Maddalozzo, J. Branchial anomalies in the pediatric population. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;137:289–95CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Stulner, C, Chambers, PA, Telfer, MR, Corrigan, AM. Management of first branchial cleft anomalies: report of two cases. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2001;39:30–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3O'Mara, W, Amedee, RG. Anomalies of the branchial apparatus. J La State Med Soc 1998;150:570–3Google ScholarPubMed
4Rajshekhar, C, Jaka, MS, Singh, G. Complete congenital third branchial fistula on right side. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;137:518–19Google Scholar
5Link, TD, Bite, U, Kasperbauer, JL, Harner, SG. Fourth branchial pouch sinus: a diagnostic challenge. Plast Reconstr Surg 2001;108:695701CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Chismona, TS, Tamiolakis, D, Proimos, E, Perogamvrakis, G, Korres, SG, Papadakis, CE. Management of second branchial cleft abnormalities in adults. B-ENT 2007;3:3943Google Scholar
7Seki, N, Himi, T. Retrospective review of 13 cases of pyriform sinus fistula. Am J Otolaryngol 2007;28:55–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Nicollas, R, Ducroz, V, Garabedian, EN, Triglia, JM. Fourth branchial pouch anomalies: a study of six cases and a review of the literature. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1998;44:510CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Hibbert, J, Kerr, A, eds. Scott-Brown's Otolaryngology: Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 6th edn.Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann 1997;5:16/4–7Google Scholar
10Rattan, KN, Rattan, S, Parihar, D, Gulia, JS, Yadav, SP. Second branchial cleft fistula: is fistulogram necessary for complete excision? Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2006;70:1027–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Hamoir, M, Rombaux, P, Cornu, AS, Clapuyt, P. Congenital fistula of the fourth branchial pouch. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1998;255:322–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Pereira, KD, Losh, GG, Oliver, D, Poole, MD. Management of anomalies of the third and fourth branchial pouches. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2004;68:4350CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Rea, PA, Hartley, BE, Bailey, CM. Third and fourth branchial pouch anomalies. J Laryngol Otol 2004;118:1924CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Park, SW, Han, MH, Sung, MH, Kim, IO, Kim, KH, Chang, KH et al. Neck infection associated with pyriform sinus fistula: imaging findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2000;21:817–22Google ScholarPubMed
15de Schepper, AM, Monheim, P, Degryse, HR, Van de Heyning, P. CT of branchial cleft cysts and fistula: comparison with MRI in three cases. Ann Radiol (Paris) 1988;31:141–8Google ScholarPubMed
16Mukherji, SK, Tart, RP, Slattery, WH, Stringer, SP, Benson, MT, Mancuso, AA. Evaluation of first branchial anomalies by CT and MR. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1993;17:576–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Keogh, IJ, Khoo, SJ, Waheed, K, Timon, C. Complete branchial cleft fistula: diagnosis and surgical management. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord) 2007;128:73–6Google ScholarPubMed
18Wang, HK, Tiu, CM, Chou, YH, Chang, CY. Imaging studies of pyriform sinus fistula. Pediatr Radiol 2003;33:328–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Ryu, CW, Lee, JH, Lee, HK, Lee, DH, Choi, CG, Kim, SJ. Clinical usefulness of multidetector CT fistulography of branchial cleft fistula. Clin Imaging 2006;30:339–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20Yang, C, Cohen, J, Everts, E, Smith, J, Caro, J, Andersen, P. Fourth branchial arch sinus: clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and surgical treatment. Laryngoscope 1999;109:442–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Shrime, M, Kacker, A, Bent, J, Ward, RF. Fourth branchial complex anomalies: a case series. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2003;67:1227–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Liberman, M, Kay, S, Emil, S, Flageole, H, Nguyen, LT, Tewfik, TL et al. Ten years of experience with third and fourth branchial remnants. J Pediatr Surg 2002;37:685–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Solares, CA, Chan, J, Koltai, PJ. Anatomical variations of the facial nerve in first branchial cleft anomalies. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:351–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed