The definition of branchial cysts, sinuses and fistulae

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Abstract
In a study of 57 [human] lateral cervical lesions, 46 cysts were found to have formed a homogeneous group and 4 sinuses and fistulae formed another homogeneous group. The cysts lay behind the angle of the mandible and were lined by stratified squamous epithelium resting on lymphoid tissue, with part of the wall resembling a lymph node. Sinuses and fistulae had life-long external openings and were muscular tubes lined by respiratory-type epithelium. The other 7 lesions had some other structure. Such uniformity of clinico-pathological features of supposed branchial lesions has not been demonstrated before and no explicit definition of them has ever been published. Apparently, these empirical findings in the 2 groups of lesions can be used as clinico-pathological definitions of branchial cysts and brachial sinuses and fistulae, respectively. Lesions with other features should be given other names.

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