"Fistulography is the direct injection of contrast media into the fistula to delineate a smooth tract extending from the external cutaneous opening at the lateral neck superomedially passing between the ECA and ICA to the tonsillar fossa."
"Due to the risk of recurrent infection and even squamous cell carcinoma obliteration of the tract is preferred. Options include: use of sclerosing agents; excision of the fistulous tract (Hockey stick type or Step Ladder incision) 4 and pull through brachial fistulectomy."
Expected headings
"Fistulography"
"The diagnosis can be confirmed various imaging modalities, including fistulography, ultrasound, CT and MRI."
"Due to the proximity of the track to the vagus nerve, instrumentation may result in symptoms such as cough, palpitation, pallor and vomiting 5."
"Second branchial cleft fistulae are rare and comprise only 2% of all branchial anomalies. They are almost always present at birth, however the small pinpoint external opening may go unnoticed. These individuals, commonly present in the first and second decade of life. There is a slight male predilection (M:F 3:2) 1"
"Only 39% are complete fistulae, linking the skin to the pharynx, with the majority (50%) only having a draining sinus; 11% have internal opening alone 1.Bilateral fistulae found in 2-10% of cases. In patients with unilateral fistulae, 70% occurs on the right side 1."
"Due to the risk of recurrent infection and even squamous cell carcinoma obliteration of the tract is preferred. Options include: use of sclerosing agents; excision of the fistulous tract (Hockey stick type or Step Ladder incision) 4 and pull through brachial fistulectomy."