Congenital cysts and fistulas of the neck.

This retrospective study describes a series of 191 children treated for congenital cysts and fistulas of the neck between 1984 and 1999 in the pediatric ORL Department of La Timone Children's Hospital. Preauricular fistulas and cystic hygromas were not included. The anomalies in this series were classified as either malformations of the midline or malformations of laterocervical region. Malformations of the midline included the thyroglossal duct cysts (n=102) and dermoid cysts (n=21). The most common malformations of the laterocervical region were cysts and fistulas of the second cleft (n=37) followed by those of the first cleft (n=20),those of the fourth pouch (n=7), and thymic cysts (n=4). Diagnosis of malformations of the midline is usually straightforward. However, diagnosis of malformation of the laterocervical region can be problematic. Misdiagnosis often leads to inadequate treatment with recurrence and functional as well as cosmetic sequelae.