Preauricular sinus and preauricular skin tag are common childhood congenital anomalies. It is important for the pediatric surgeon to be familiar with the embryology and differentiation of head and neck structure to accurately diagnose and treat these lesions. Seventy-eight patients with preauricular sinus and twenty-eight with preauricular skin tag treated in the Department of pediatric surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1981 to May 2002 were reviewed to determine relative frequency, clinical classification and appropriate treatment. The male to female ratio of preauricular sinus was 1:1.2, and preauricular skin tag was 1:1. The most commonly presenting age of sinus and skin tag was before 5 year (62.8%) and before 1 year (53.6%). Twenty nine of 78 cases of preauricular sinuses were on the left, 25 on the right and 24 bilateral. Sings of infectio were infection were seen in 73.0% of patients with preauricular sinus at operation. Only 31.3% of lesions were infected in patients less than one year of age, but 89.5% between 3-5 year and 100% between 5-8 year. Cartilage was present in five patients with preauricular skin tag. Although re-operation due to wound infection was necessary in four cases, no recurrences were found. The preauricular sinus is a common anomaly in childhood, and has had a relatively high recurrence rate. But most of the recurrence were due to incomplete resection because of combined infection. Initial proper diagnosis and early operation are very important. Identification of the exact anatomical location of sinus tract is necessary because total excision of the lesions including those tracts is the only way to prevent recurrence.

Branchial anomaly is a frequently occurring congenital abnormality in childhood. It is important for the pediatric surgeon alike to be familiar with the embryology and differentiation of head and neck structure to accurately diagnose and treat these lesions. Eighty-five patients with branchial anomaly treated at Hanyang University Hospital between 1980 and 2001 were reviewed to determine relative frequency, clinical classification and appropriate treatment. The male to female ratio of branchial anomaly was 1.2:1. The most commonly presenting age was before 1 year (32 %) and the age group between 1 and 3 year (22 %) followed it. According to the classification of branchial anomalies, 73 of 85 cases were second branchial anomaly, 9 had the first type and 3 did fourth type. One patient showed combined anomalies of the first and the second type. Infection sign were seen in 70 % of patients at the time of the first visit to our hospital and also patients' symptoms were frequently related with the infection. Forty-one cases (48 %) were fistula, 21 (25 %) were cysts, 21 (25 %) were sinuses, and two were only cartilage remnants. The most common type of the branchial anomalies is the second branchial fistula and the most common symptoms of the anomalies are related with infection. Initial proper diagnosis and anatomical classification of the anomalies are very important in managing the lesions. The efforts to find the exact anatomical location of the fistula or sinus tract are necessary because total excision of the lesions including those tracts is the only way to prevent recurrence.