Abstract
Defective closure of the pharyngeal apparatus during the second week of gestation
results in pharyngeal arch anomalies. Although pharyngeal apparatus (branchial) anomalies
are frequently seen, bilateral cases are rare (only 2% to 3%). Bilaterality has a
familial predisposition. Our patients, a set of identical twins, presented with bilateral
discharging cervical sinuses noticed at 3 months of age. Physical examination was
suggestive of bilateral pharyngeal apparatus (branchial) sinuses. Both patients were
managed with surgical excision in the same operative sitting. To the best of our knowledge,
ours is the first case of bilateral pharyngeal apparatus (branchial) sinuses in a
set of identical twins.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 16,
2012
Received in revised form:
July 16,
2012
Received:
April 20,
2012
Footnotes
☆Conflict of interest: nil.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.