First branchial cleft anomaly: a report of case.

A rare case of first branchial cleft anomaly in a 21-year-old female is described. A fistulous tract was located near the angle of the mandible and anterior to the sternocleidmastoid muscle, extending upwards under the facial nerve and opening into the external auditory canal. The tract was completely removed and the facial nerve was preserved. Histopathologic examination revealed that the tract was composed of keratinizing squamous cell epithelium with adnexal structures and cartilage.