Congenital midline cervical cleft is a rare anomaly of the anterior neck. The diagnosis is typically made on the basis of the lesion's characteristic clinical presentation at birth. It appears to occur as a result of a failure of fusion of the paired second branchial arches in the midline during embryogenesis. Surgical intervention is necessary to avoid potential long-term complications, such as contractures and limitation of neck mobility. We present 3 cases of congenital midline cervical cleft, arid we discuss the embryology, presentation, and surgical management of this unusual condition.
References
1.
FrenchWE, BaleGF. Midline cervical cleft of the neck with associated branchial cyst. Am J Surg1973;125:376–81.
2.
EastlackJP, HowardRM, FriedenIJ. Congenital midline cervical cleft: Case report and review of the English language literature. Pediatr Dermatol2000;17:118–22.
3.
WoodGA, DeisterE.Anterior midline neck webbing with microgenia and symphyseal exostosis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol1983;56:128–31.
4.
FincherSG, FincherGG. Congenital midline cervical cleft with subcutaneous fibrous cord. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1989;101:399–401.
5.
MillardDRJr, LehmanJAJr, DeaneM, GarstWP. Median cleft of the lower lip and mandible: A case report. Br J Plast Surg1971;24:391–5.
6.
ConstantE, DavisDG, EdminsterR.Bronchogenic cyst of the suprasternal area. Case report. Plast Reconstr Surg1973;52:88–90.
7.
MaschkaDA, ClemonsJE, JanisJF. Congenital midline cervical cleft. Case report and review. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1995;104:808–11.
8.
AyacheD, DucrozV, RogerG, GarabedianEN. Case report: Midline cervical cleft. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol1997;40:189–93.
9.
MortonBC, JordanHE. Median cleft of lower lip and mandible, cleft sternum and absence of basihyoid: Report of a case. Arch Surg1935;30:647–56.
GrossRE, ConnerlyML. Thyroglossal cysts and sinuses: A study and report of 198 cases. N Engl J Med1940;223:616–24.
13.
KaplanLC, MatsuokaR, GibertEF, Ectopia cordis and cleft sternum: Evidence for mechanical teratogenesis following rupture of the chorion or yolk sac. Am J Med Genet1985;21:187–202.
14.
GodbersenS, HeckelV, WiedemannHR. Pterygium colli media-num and midline cervical cleft: Midline anomalies in the sense of a developmental field defect. Am J Med Genet1987;27:719–23.
15.
Van DuynJ.Congenital midline cervical cord with report of a case and a note on the etiology of congenital torticollis. Plast Reconstr Surg1963;31:576–86.
16.
BraithwaiteF, WatsonJ.A report on three unusual cleft lips. Br J Plast Surg1949;2:38–49.
