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Branchial cleft anomalies: accuracy of pre-operative diagnosis, clinical presentation and management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

L-A Guldfred ,
B B Philipsen  and
C Siim
L-A Guldfred*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
B B Philipsen
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
C Siim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Liviu-Adelin Guldfred, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rigshospitalet, F 2071, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen, Denmark E-mail: kliviu@guldfred.dk
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Abstract

Objective:

To examine the accuracy of the pre-operative diagnosis of branchial cleft anomalies, and also to describe their occurrence, clinical presentation and management.

Methods:

Retrospective review of the records of patients diagnosed with a branchial cleft anomaly between 1997 and 2006.

Results:

One hundred and twenty-six patients were included. Pre-operative diagnosis had a positive predictive value of 0.856 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.771–0.918) and a sensitivity of 0.944 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.869–0.979). These patients' demographic data, investigations, findings and management are presented, along with a possible strategy for dealing with solitary cystic masses in the neck.

Conclusion:

As pre-operative diagnosis has a positive predictive value of 86 per cent, cystic lesions in the neck should be presumed to be carcinomatous until proven otherwise. Branchial fistulae and sinuses seem to be a disease of childhood, while branchial cysts occur mainly in adults. Branchial cleft anomalies are equally frequent in men and women, and equally distributed on the left and right side of the neck.

Keywords

Branchial Cleft CystFistulaDiagnosisPredictive Value Of TestsSensitivitySpecificityCarcinoma
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 598 - 604
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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