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Start free with EleplanSecond branchial cleft anomaly
ORPHA:141022Morphological anomaly
Also called Second branchial cleft cyst · Second branchial cleft fistula
What it is
A rare otorhinolaryngological malformation characterized by the presence of a cyst, sinus or fistula occuring along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Second branchial cleft fistulae and sinuses present with skin opening with chronic discharge and recurrent infections, whereas second branchial cleft cysts present as a painless, nontender, stable in size or slowly enlarging lateral neck masses. Cysts occasionally acutely increase in size during upper respiratory tract infection, leading to respiratory compromise, torticollis, and dysphagia.
Key facts
- Classified as
- Morphological anomaly
ICD-10 codes
ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.
Related health topics
Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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