Idiopathic Palatal Fistula of the Left Soft Palate

Abstract

Palatal fistulas, often congenital or trauma-induced, are occasionally encountered in the field of plastic surgery. We report a case of a non-medial 3 mm soft palate fistula in a 43-year-old woman, with no apparent trigger or history of local trauma or infection. The fistula, extending 2 cm toward the lateral pharyngeal wall, was surgically removed under general anesthesia as it was impacting the patient’s quality of life. The lumen was stained, and the fistula was removed in one mass. The excised tissue was covered with stratified squamous epithelium and was surrounded by adherent tonsil tissue. No recurrence was observed postoperatively. Despite an initial suspicion of a congenital cause, the fistula’s lateral extension and histology suggested a possible origin from the second pharyngeal pouch. To date, there are no reports of fistulas opening on the soft palate. Therefore, this presents an exceptionally rare instance of a soft palate fistula.