Radiation injury to the temporal bone.

Osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone is an unusual sequela of radiation therapy to the head and neck. Symptoms occur many years after the radiation is administered, and progression of the disease is insidious. Hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed), otalgia, otorrhea, and even gross tissue extrusion herald this condition.

First branchial cleft cysts: clinical update.

First branchial cleft cysts develop as a result of incomplete fusion of the cleft between the first and second branchial arches and give rise to two distinct anomalies, termed type I and type II anomalies. Type I anomalies are purely ectodermal while type II anomalies exhibit ectodermal and mesodermal elements. The type II anomaly incorporates some portion of the first and second arch as well as the cleft.