Surgical Approaches to First Branchial Cleft Anomaly Excision: A Case Series

Figure 4

Case  4. (a)(1–4) MRI with and without contrast, T1-weighted images in coronal cuts, showing tract (arrow) travelling from adjacent to left EAC superiorly, down towards left submandibular fossa, posterior to the submandibular gland, and ending at the skin inferiorly. (b) Facial nerve identified and protected during surgery. The tract is seen passing deep to the nerve (FN: facial nerve; M: mandible). (c) Specimen after removal, consistent with a duplication of the EAC, containing cartilage (separate piece dissected off main specimen after excision).

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