Congenital Malformations of the Neck

This chapter includes embryologic and clinical descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of the more common congenital anomalies of the neck. The authors present the topics in sections based on the underlying pathology. These sections include descriptions of malformations resulting from abnormal development of (1) the branchial arches (branchial cleft cysts: first, second, third, and fourth branchial cleft fistulas; thymic cysts), (2) the thyroid gland (thyroglossal duct cysts), (3) the germ line tissue resulting in ecto/meso/endodermal anomalies (dermoids, teratomas, midline cervical cleft) and (4) the cervical vasculature and neural structures (lymphatic malformations, hemangiomas, neurofibromas).