[The diagnosis and surgical treatment of a lateral cyst and fistula of the neck].

Surgical treatment was performed in 66 patients with lateral cyst and 23 with congenital single brachiogenic cervical fistula. In 14 patients, a cyst was complicated by a cervical phlegmon, 17 had a complete fistula, 6--incomplete one. In cyst diagnosis, the clinical signs and puncture of a cyst is of crucial importance, in fistula diagnosis--its connection with the pharynx--introduction of a dye. Removal of the uncomplicated cyst, spontaneously opened cyst-phlegmon (in 58 patients) and fistula (in 20) was performed with the use of the most cosmetic oblique-transverse incision. A lateral cyst often becomes infected and is subject to removal immediately alter establishment of the diagnosis. It is preferable to operate the patients with a lateral congenital cervical fistula non-complicated by infection when they are under school age.