OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical feature,diagnostic and therapeutic methods of ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid. METHOD: Four cases of ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid in our hospital were reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed. RESULT: The branchial fistula and cyst of four cases were adhered to thyroid,with unclear anatomical landmarks, the function of recurrent laryngeal nerve were bad before the operation in two cases. The nerve of four cases were retained, the function of thyriod and parathyroid gland were normal and no recurrence were found. CONCLUSION Ultimobranchial fistula and cyst of thyroid is rare and is easier to be misdiagnosed and wrong treated. Surgical excision is effective for it and recurrent laryngeal nerve should be protected when performing the operation.
Cysts ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fistula ; Humans ; Parathyroid Glands ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thyroid Diseases ; pathology ; surgery