Objective:To explore the clinical value of recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection in the surgical treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula（CPSF）. Methods:The clinical data of 42 patients with CPSF were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were diagnosed and treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University. Results:During the operation, all patients' recurrent laryngeal nerves were dissected successfully, and fistulas were resected completely,no patients had complication of recurrent laryngeal nerve's damage.There were no recurrence cases during the 13 to 48 months of follow-up. Conclusion:The trend of congenital pyriform sinus fistula is closely related to recurrent laryngeal nerve, it's important to dissect the recurrent laryngeal nerve during the operation for congenital pyriform sinus fistula.
Humans ; Neck ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pyriform Sinus/surgery* ; Fistula/surgery*

Objective: To investigate the anatomic tract of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF). Methods: A total of 90 patients with CPSF undergoing open surgery between August, 2007 and March, 2017 at the Department of Guangdong General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The tracts of all the fistulas actually walked far different from those of theoretical ones. A whole fistula may be divided into 4 segments according to adjacent anatomy of CPSF. The posterior inner segment to the thyroid cartilage was initial part of the fistula. It originated from the apex of pyriform sinus, then piercing out of the inferior constrictor of pharynx inferiorly near the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage (ICTC), and descended between the lateral branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The ICTC segment was the second part of the fistula, firstly piercing out of the inferior constrictor of pharynx and/or cricothyroid muscle, and then entering into the upper pole of thyroid. The relationship between fistula and ICTC could be divided into three types: type A (medial inferior to ICTC) accounting for 42.2% (38/90); type B (penetrate ICTC) for 3.3% (3/90); and type C (lateral inferior to ICTC) for 54.5% (49/90). The internal segment in thyroid gland was the third part of fistula, walking into the thyroid gland and terminating at its upper pole (92.2%, 83/90) or deep cervical fascia near the upper pole of thyroid (7.8%, 7/90). The lateral inferior segment to thyroid gland was the last part of the fisula, most of which are iatrogenic pseudo fistula, and started from the lateral margin of thyroid gland. Conclusions CPSF has a complicated pathway. Recognition of the tract and adjacent anatomy of CPSF will facilitate the dissection and resection of CPSF in open surgery.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and significance of modified Killian(MK) method in the clinical diagnosis of congenital pyriform sinus fistula(CPSF) by electronic laryngoscopy. Methods: The following examinations were performed for 30 suspected cases of CPSF, including the traditional electronic laryngoscopy, MK examination(modified Killian position+ head rotation+ the Valsalva maneuver), barium swallow X-ray(BSX) and CT , and a prospective comparison among them were done. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: young age group(≤14 years old) and older age group (>14 years old). The results of MK examination from the patients were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR) between groups were compared by using χ² tests. Results: Sinuses in 20 of 30 patients were depicted from pyriform sinus in BSX, and the PDR was 66.7%(20/30). The PRD of CT was 83.3%(25/30). The presence of air bubbles around the upper lobe of the thyroid gland or at the inferomedial edge of cricothyroid joints, morphological changes of thyroid grand as well as pseudo-fistula formation on lower neck were detected clearly on CT. Comparing to the traditional electronic laryngoscopy, the effect of exposing piriform fossa fistula by MK examination is significant(χ²=17.05, P<0.05), with the PDR of 13.3%(4/30) and 76.7%(23/30) respectively. Nevertheless, comparing to BSX and CT, there were no statistically significant differences in the effect to diagnose CPSF (χ²=0.31, χ²=0.10 respectively, P>0.05). The PDR of MK in older group is significantly higher than younger group(χ²=6.68, P<0.05). Conclusions MK examination can clearly reveal the hypopharyngeal anatomical structure and detect the sinus of CPSF .It could be a safe, feasible, convenient and economical method as an application in preoperative diagnosis and follow-up examination of clinical suspected CPSF.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Work Ⅱ type of congenital first branchial cleft anomaly (CFBCA) and facial nerve and discuss surgical strategies. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with CFBCA who were treated from May 2005 to September 2016. Among 37 cases with CFBCA, 12 males and 25 females; 24 in the left and 13 in the right; the age at diagnosis was from 1 to 76 ( years, with a median age of 20, 24 cases with age of 18 years or less and 13 with age more than 18 years; duration of disease ranged from 1 to 10 years (median of 6 years); 4 cases were recurren after fistula resection. According to the classification of Olsen, all 37 cases were non-cyst (sinus or fistula). External fistula located over the mandibular angle in 28 (75.7%) cases and below the angle in 9 (24.3%) cases. Results: Surgeries were performed successfully in all the 37 cases. It was found that lesions located at anterior of the facial nerve in 13 (35.1%) cases, coursed between the branches in 3 cases (8.1%), and lied in the deep of the facial nerve in 21 (56.8%) cases. CFBCA in female with external fistula below mandibular angle and membranous band was more likely to lie deep of the facial nerve than in male with external fistula over the mandibular angle but without myringeal web. Conclusions CFBCA in female patients with a external fistula located below the mandibular angle, non-cyst of Olsen or a myringeal web is more likely to lie deep of the facial nerve. Surgeons should particularly take care of the protection of facial nerve in these patients, if necessary, facial nerve monitoring technology can be used during surgery to complete resection of lesions.

Objective To investigate the image features of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and preoperative images of 80 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CPSF by surgical and pathological outcome in Guangdong general hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. At least one of the following imaging examinations were performed for all the patients, including Barium swallow X-ray (BSX), CT and MRI. Among them, 63 patients were examined with BSX, while 42 patients underwent plain and enhanced CT scans, wherein 40 of them were exanimated shortly after BSX. Thirty-two patients underwent plain and enhanced MRI scans. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age, young age group (≤14 years old) and older age group (>14 years old). Furthermore, they were also grouped based on inflammatory or quiescent stage clinically. The images of BSX, CT, and MRI from the patients were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR) between groups were compared by using χ2 tests. Results For the patients examined with BSX, sinuses in 35 of 63 were depicted from pyriform and fistulas in 9 of 63 were depicted from the pyriform. The overall PDR of BSX was 74.6%(47/63),wherein 46.2%(12/26)in young age group , 94.6%(35/37)in older age group, 52.9%(9/17) in inflammatory stage group ,and 82.6%(38/46)in quiescent stage group. The inter-group differences were statistically significant (χ2 were 18.911 and 5.766,both P<0.05). The PDR of CPSF with CT was 85.7%(36/42), MRI was 84.4%(27/32), BSX+CT was 87.5%(35/40). The courses of fistula or sinus were showed on CT and MRI. The presence of air bubbles at the inferomedial edge of cricothyroid joints or around the upper lobe of the thyroid gland, the changes of the morphology of thyroid grand as well as the inflammatory change along the fistula region were detected much clearly on CT and MRI. There was no statistical difference between CT and MRI groups(P>0.05).Conclusions BSX could be a screening method for suspected cases of CPSF in quiescent stage. However, the PDR could be affected by many factors (age and inflammation). CT and MRI could provide valuable information for diagnosis. An examination combined BSX and CT is preferred to improve the positive detective rate of CPSF.

Objective To report rare cases of congenital neck cutaneous sinus with an orifice near the sternoclavicular joint and to investigate their origins and managements.Methods A total of ten patients with congenital neck cutaneous sinus having an orifice near the sternoclavicular joint treated in the Guangdong General Hospital from January 2010 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Results There four boys and six girls,aging from 11 months to 96 months with an average of 33.4 months,and they had a common feature showing a congenital cutaneous sinus with an orifice near sternoclavicular joint.Discharge of pus from the orifice or abscess formation was commonly seen soon after infection.With bacteriological study,staphylococcus aureus was positive in five cases and klebsiella pneumonia in a case.Another orifice of fistula/sinus was not depicted in pyriform with barium swallow X-ray in five cases Ultrasound studies of three cases demonstrated anechoic (i.e.,nearly black) and solid-cystic lesion near sternoclavicular joint with posterior acoustic enhancement.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed isointensity of the lesion on T1 and T2 weighted images with heterogeneous enhancement and a close relationship with sternoclavicular joint.All patients underwent laryngoscopic examination,which showed no orifice of sinus in pyriform at same side.Surgical resection of fistula/sinus was performed in all cases.The lengths of the fistula varied from 5 mm to 22 mm with an average of 11 mm.Postoperative pathological examination showed all specimens were accordance with fistula.No complications were noticed.Recurrence was not observed in the cases by following-up of 6 months to 70 months (median:33 months).Conclusion Congenital neck cutaneous sinus with orifice near the sternoclavicular joint maybe a special clinical phenotype of the fourth branchial cleft sinus with skin orifice in cervicothoracic junction.Differential diagnoses between low cervical diseases are required.The curative treatment is a complete excision during inflammatory quiescent period.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Fistula ; congenital ; Humans ; Male ; Pyriform Sinus

OBJECTIVE: To provide anantomical basis for the endoscope-assisted partial superficial parotidectomy via retroauricular hairline approach (EASPRHA) and assess its feasibility and safety. METHOD: The surgical anatomy of retroauricular hairline region and parotid gland region were observed in 15 fresh human cadavers (30 halves). The EASPRHA was performed on 5 human cadavers (10 halves). After the procedure, the related vascular and neural structures were evaluated. RESULT: The retroauricular hairline region extends between superficial musculoaponeurotic system and superficial cervical fascia. On the superficial surface of the upper sternocleidomastoid lie the lesser occipital nerve, the great auricular nerve and the external jugular vein. The bifurcation of great auricular nerve is(22.85 ± 2.01) mm from the bottom of earlobe. The parotid gland region extends between parotidomassteric fascia and parotid gland parenchyma. The facial nerve emerging from the stylomastoid foramen runs across the superficial surface of base of styloid process, passes through the interspace between cartilage of external acoustic meatus and posterior belly of digastric muscle, and enters the parotid gland. The bifurcation of facial nerve trunk is (19.10 ± 3.10)mm from the mastoidale and (39.49 ± 5.78) mm from the mandibular angle. Above the posterior belly of digastric muscle, the posterior auricular artery arises from the posterior wall of the external carotid artery with its main stem running over the superficial surface of facial nerve trunk. In all endoscope-assisted operations, the partial superficial parotidectomy was successful without the need for an additional incision. No major neurovascular damage wasobserved. CONCLUSION A thorough knowledge of the surgical anatomy of retroauricular hairline region and parotid gland region is an essential requirement in performing the safe and feasible EASPRHA.
Cranial Nerves ; anatomy & histology ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Fascia ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; Parotid Gland ; anatomy & histology ; surgery