4TH BRANCHIAL POUCH CYST - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF NEONATAL STRIDOR

Fourth branchial pouch anomalies are extremely rare and only a few suc h cases showing sinuses and cystic masses have been reported in the li terature. We describe a patient who presented on the third day of life with cystic neck swelling of fourth branchial pouch origin giving ris e to respiratory obstruction and strider. Despite repeated aspiration of the cystic mass to relieve respiratory obstruction, rapid recurrenc e of the mass continued to cause strider and ultimately required surgi cal excision. The clinical, radiological, and histopathological findin gs of this unusual condition are discussed with a review of the litera ture.