Two Cases of First Branchial Cleft Anomalies Medial to the Facial Nerve

Abstract

First branchial cleft anomalies usually come to the clinicians attention because of an external opening or recurrent infections. For the safe and complete resection, a thorough understanding of the interrelationship of the anomaly to the facial nerve and identification of the facial nerve at the operative field is required. The risk of facial nerve injury increases in patients who have had multiple infections or surgical procedures. We present detailed figures demonstrating the relationship of the branchial cleft cysts to the facial nerve and emphasize that successful total resection without complications require exposure of the lesions relationships to the facial nerve.




doi:10.4021/jcs9w