A Review Over the Past 15 Years of the Management of the Internal Piriform Apex Sinus Tract of a Branchial Pouch Anomaly and Case Description

Abstract

Objectives: Literature review of treating the piriform apex sinus tract through microlaryngoscopy and a case description.

Review methods: Fourteen papers were identified in PubMed using the search criteria of piriform sinus fistula, microlaryngoscopic repair, and endoscopy. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Results: One hundred forty-five cases including ours were available for review, with 182 procedures. Sixty-two cases were male, 73 female, and 10 genders were not reported. Multiple treatment options were used, including electrocautery, chemocautery, mass excision, fibrin glue, lasers, suture closure, or combination of stated modalities. Of the 182 procedures, 147 procedures were performed endoscopically. There were 37 recurrences (25%). These patients either underwent a repeat endoscopic procedure or an open excision. One hundred and ten (75%) endoscopic procedures were successful.

Conclusions: Piriform sinus tract anomalies often present as a mass and recurrent neck infections. This review reveals that treating the internal piriform sinus opening alone can be successful. This procedure has low morbidity, short operative time, and high success. We advocate this approach first with a combined open/laryngoscopic approach for failed cases. To our knowledge, our technique of CO₂laser ablation of the tract followed by suture closure has not been previously described. We believe this to be the first comprehensive review of this topic and the largest series of cases included in a single report.

Keywords: branchial pouch anomaly; endoscopic repair; piriform sinus fistula.