{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T00:30:43Z","timestamp":1785198643472,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]],"date-time":"2026-02-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770595200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]],"date-time":"2026-02-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770595200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100006470","name":"Aristotle University of Thessaloniki","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100006470","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pediatr Surg Int"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>First branchial cleft anomalies are uncommon paediatric congenital lesions that may present as persistent pre-auricular or post-auricular sinuses and can involve the parotid region and facial nerve. We present a single-centre 10-year experience describing presentation, imaging, management and outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Retrospective review of a prospectively collected local dataset of paediatric patients with first branchial arch cleft cysts\/tracts who underwent evaluation and surgery at a tertiary paediatric centre. Data elements included age at presentation, presenting symptoms, imaging modality, surgical treatment, postoperative complications, facial nerve dysfunction, fistula course, recurrence and follow-up.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eleven patients were included (mean age 5.55 years, median 4 years). The commonest presentation was a persistent sinus with purulent discharge (9\/11). Laterality was predominantly left-sided (8\/11). MRI was the most used imaging modality (8\/11). Postoperative wound infection occurred in 3\/11 patients (27%); marginal mandibular branch weakness was recorded in 2\/11 (both documented as transient\/resolved). One patient had documented recurrence. The fistula\/tract most commonly tracked from level II to the ear canal (9\/11).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this paediatric series, first branchial arch cleft anomalies most commonly presented as persistent left-sided sinuses with purulent discharge. MRI was commonly used for preoperative assessment. Surgical excision was associated with wound infection in a minority and transient marginal mandibular weakness in several cases. Larger multi-centre series with systematic prospective follow-up are needed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00383-026-06298-6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]],"date-time":"2026-02-09T07:53:21Z","timestamp":1770623601000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["First branchial cleft cysts in a UK paediatric tertiary centre: A 10-year single-centre case series"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"42","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4355-2070","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sofia","family":"Anastasiadou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paris","family":"Bruno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Oliver","family":"Dale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julian","family":"Gaskin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"6298_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijporl.2024.112095","volume":"186","author":"AL Heilingoetter","year":"2024","unstructured":"Heilingoetter AL et al (2024) Comprehensive management and classification of first branchial cleft anomalies: an International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus statement. 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