Abstract
Introduction. Branchial cleft anomalies (BCA) can occur as sinuses,
fistulas or cysts. They arise from the first, second, third or fourth
pharyngeal cleft due to non-fusion or subinvolution. Mostly, located in
Robbin’s neck-level II, BCA clinically present as a painless
compressible swelling, cutaneous draining sinus, or fistula. Surgical
treatment is the gold standard to prevent recurrence, though the
necessity of ipsilateral tonsillectomy is discussed.
Study Design. We conducted a retrospective comparative cohort study.
Setting. Monocentric.
Methods. In retrospect, data was collected from patients, that were
admitted with the diagnosis BCA between 2006 and 2020 in an academic
tertiary care center.
Main outcome measures. 160 patients met inclusion criteria, the data was
further evaluated, the focus was set on the occurrence of recurrence
with or without tonsillectomy.
Results. Recurrence of BCA was observed in 2 out of 160
surgically treated patients (1,25%), one of them with simultaneous
tonsillectomy, the other without.
Conclusion. A statistically significant difference in the
recurrence-rate between these two groups (with/without tonsillectomy)
could not be shown. The performance of an ipsilateral simultaneous
tonsillectomy in the surgical workup of BCA cannot be recommended at the
basis of our data.