Second branchial cleft fistula

Discussion:

Branchial fistula represent a persistent second branchial cleft where the external cutaneous orifice is nearly always situated in the lower third of the neck near the sternocleidomastoid, whilst the internal orifice is located on the anterior aspect of the posterior faucial pillar just behind the tonsil. The tract is lined by the ciliated columnar epithelial 1.

Branchial cleft fistula should be differentiated from thyroglossal fistula which arise from epithelial trapped during the embryonic descent of the thyroid gland as is located in the midline between base of the tongue and the thyroid. The external orifice of the thyroglossal fistula moves on tongue protrusion 1.

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