Handedness and the side on which pharyngeal pouches occur.

Pharyngeal pouches present far more commonly on the left side of the neck than the right. Sixty one patients with a history of pharyngeal pouch were questioned about their handedness and about whether they had had symptoms or signs predominantly on one side of the neck before receiving treatment. There was a highly significant association between handedness and pharyngeal pouches on the opposite side of the neck. It is suggested that this is the reason for the rarity of right sided pouches.