Improving outcomes in the management of first branchial cleft anomalies in children

Drs Liu and Zhang along with their co‐authors present to us an extremely large series of first branchial cleft anomalies (FBCA) over only a 4‐year time span. Utilizing the Work classification for Type I (ectodermal origin) and Type II (ectoderm and mesoderm), they describe the incidence of the disorders in their population and the relationship of the anomalies with the facial nerve. Both Type I and II FBCA had involvement of the external auditory canal (EAC); 26.8% of the patients with Type I FBCA had mild EAC stenosis after resection of the anomaly.