TY - JOUR
T1 - Anatomical variations of the facial nerve in first branchial cleft anomalies
AU - Solares, C. Arturo
AU - Chan, James
AU - Koltai, Peter J.
PY - 2003/3/1
Y1 - 2003/3/1
N2 - Objective: To review our experience with branchial cleft anomalies, with special attention to their subtypes and anatomical relationship to the facial nerve. Study Design: Case series. Setting: Tertiary care center. Patients: Ten patients who underwent resection for anomalies of the first branchial cleft, with at least 1 year of follow-up, were included in the study. The data from all cases were collected in a prospective fashion, including immediate postoperative diagrams. Intervention: Complete resection of the branchial cleft anomaly was performed in all cases. Wide exposure of the facial nerve was achieved using a modified Blair incision and superficial parotidectomy. Facial nerve monitoring was used in every case. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measurements were facial nerve function and incidence of recurrence after resection of the branchial cleft anomaly. Results: Ten patients, 6 females and 4 males, with a mean age of 9 years at presentation, were treated by the senior author (P.J.K.) between 1989 and 2001. The lesions were characterized as sinus tracts (n = 5), fistulous tracts (n = 3), and cysts (n = 2). Seven lesions were medial to the facial nerve, 2 were lateral to the facial nerve, and 1 was between branches of the facial nerve. There were no complications related to facial nerve paresis or paralysis, and none of the patients has had a recurrence. Conclusions: The successful treatment of branchial cleft anomalies requires a complete resection. A safe complete resection requires a full exposure of the facial nerve, as the lesions can be variably associated with the nerve.
AB - Objective: To review our experience with branchial cleft anomalies, with special attention to their subtypes and anatomical relationship to the facial nerve. Study Design: Case series. Setting: Tertiary care center. Patients: Ten patients who underwent resection for anomalies of the first branchial cleft, with at least 1 year of follow-up, were included in the study. The data from all cases were collected in a prospective fashion, including immediate postoperative diagrams. Intervention: Complete resection of the branchial cleft anomaly was performed in all cases. Wide exposure of the facial nerve was achieved using a modified Blair incision and superficial parotidectomy. Facial nerve monitoring was used in every case. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measurements were facial nerve function and incidence of recurrence after resection of the branchial cleft anomaly. Results: Ten patients, 6 females and 4 males, with a mean age of 9 years at presentation, were treated by the senior author (P.J.K.) between 1989 and 2001. The lesions were characterized as sinus tracts (n = 5), fistulous tracts (n = 3), and cysts (n = 2). Seven lesions were medial to the facial nerve, 2 were lateral to the facial nerve, and 1 was between branches of the facial nerve. There were no complications related to facial nerve paresis or paralysis, and none of the patients has had a recurrence. Conclusions: The successful treatment of branchial cleft anomalies requires a complete resection. A safe complete resection requires a full exposure of the facial nerve, as the lesions can be variably associated with the nerve.
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U2 - 10.1001/archotol.129.3.351
DO - 10.1001/archotol.129.3.351
M3 - Article
C2 - 12622548
AN - SCOPUS:0037338344
SN - 0886-4470
VL - 129
SP - 351
EP - 355
JO - Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
JF - Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
IS - 3
ER -