Abstract
Congenital fistulas and cysts of the first branchial cleft are relatively rare anomalies as compared to those of the second branchial cleft. About 40 such cases have been reported in japan. A case of first branchial cleft cyst occurring in a 45-year-old female is described. The case: In May, 1989, the patient was found to have a congenital cyst. The main body of the cyst was situated below the right angle of the mandible and anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, with a fistula ascending through the parotid gland, lying deep inside the facial nerve and having a blind ending at the floor of the external auditory canal. The anomaly appeared to correspond to Work's classification type II. Imaging techniques including X-ray computed tomography and ultrasonography were useful for preoperative diagnosis.
