CT and MR imaging findings of infection-free and benign second branchial cleft cysts

Congenital second branchial cleft anomalies in children: A report of 52 surgical cases, with emphasis on characteristic CT findings

Objective

The objectives of this study was to review the clinical features and surgical treatment outcomes of congenital second branchial cleft anomalies (CSBCAs) and to investigate the characteristic computed tomography (CT) findings of CSBCAs.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 52 children who were referred to Shanghai Children's Hospital from October 2014 to December 2021 diagnosed as CSBCAs.

Results

There were 36 males and 16 females. Of them, 35 patients were presented as having a skin pit at birth or discharge from the skin opening on the lateral neck, and 17 patients presented with an asymptomatic or painful mass. The typical CT features of CSBCAs included isolated and homogeneously hypodense cystic lesions surrounded by a uniformly thin, smooth wall. CSBCAs were generally located at the anteromedial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, posterior to the submandibular gland, and lateral to the carotid sheath. All patients were treated surgically and only one case underwent ipsilateral tonsillectomy. After a median follow-up of 30 (range 4-90) months, no recurrence or complications were observed.

Conclusions

The CSBCAs show some characteristic CT findings, which can help clinicians diagnose and plan surgical strategies. High ligation of the lesions is sufficient for complete excision of CSBCAs.

Pediatric bronchogenic cysts in the head and neck region: A study of 10 surgical cases and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of children with bronchogenic cysts (BCs) in the head and neck region.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 10 pediatric patients with BCs in the head and neck region treated in Shanghai Children's Hospital during 2011 to 2022 was performed.

RESULTS

Based on their pathological diagnosis, 10 patients with BCs in the head and neck were identified. The most common location was the neck (8 patients, 80%; 2 midline neck, 6 lateral neck), followed by the ventral tip of tongue (1 patient), and the posterior pharyngeal wall (1 patient). Misdiagnosed as lymphangioma in 5 cases, cyst in 3 cases, thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) in 2 cases and congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF) in 1 case preoperative. The median follow-up period after surgery was 4.68 (range, 0.67-9.25) years. All 10 patients underwent complete resection without recurrence or other complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Although extremely rare, BCs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of midline and lateral neck masses or intraoral cysts in children. Surgical excision is recommended in BCs, and the diagnosis is definitively confirmed by histopathology.

Second branchial cleft cyst with snoring during sleep as initial symptom: A case report and literature review

The second branchial cleft cyst lacks typical symptoms, and its clinical manifestations are complex and varied. Among them, the second branchial cleft cyst manifested by sleep snoring is relatively rare, and it can easily lead to missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. This paper reports a case of a second branchial cleft abscess with snoring as the main manifestation. The branchial cleft cyst was removed using an endoscopic branchial cleft.

Narrative review of multiparametric ultrasound in parotid gland evaluation

Disorders affecting parotid gland represent a heterogeneous group comprising congenital, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases which show a focal or diffuse pattern of appearance. The differentiation of neoplastic from non-neoplastic conditions of parotid glands is pivotal for the diagnostic imaging. Frequently there is evidence of overlapping between the clinical and the imaging appearance of the various pathologies. The parotid gland is also often object of study with the combination of different techniques [ultrasound-computed tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (US-CT-MRI), ex.]. Compared to other dominant methods of medical imaging, US has several advantages providing images in real-time at lower cost, and without harmful use of ionizing radiation and of contrast enhancement. B-mode US, and the microvascular pattern color Doppler are usually used as first step evaluation of parotid lesions. Elastography and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) has opened further possible perspectives to improve the differentiation between benign and malignant parotid lesions. The characterization of the parotid tumors plays a crucial role for their treatment planning and for the prediction of possible surgical complications. We present, here an updated review of the most recurrent pathologies of parotid gland focusing on the diagnostic power of multiparametric US including CEUS and ultrasound elastography (USE); limitations, advantages and the main key-points will be presented.