Persistent Buccopharyngeal Membrane: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane is an extremely rare clinical entity that can be diagnosed easily by simple examination of the oral cavity and confirmed by a lateral contrast x-ray. The abnormality can be easily corrected surgically.

Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane in an adult

“…Surgery to excise such membranes is indicated on the basis of feeding difficulties but reported results are mixed 1,3,8 . Problems of re-stenosis at the site of the excised membrane have been reported requiring repeated procedures 1,3 .…”

Persistent buccopharyngeal membrane: Report of a case and review of the literature

“…This is a bilaminar membrane with ectoderm on one side and endoderm on the other. As the primitive face grows in three dimensions a stress is placed on this membrane causing it to break down, typically around day 26 [1,2]. The theoretical attachments of the membrane are superiorly to the soft palate, laterally along the anterior tonsillar pillars, and inferiorly at the junction of the anterior two-thirds and posterior one-third of the tongue [3].…”

“…fat and muscle, with the theory that mesodermal penetration in utero of the membrane leads to its persistence [2].…”

“…Eight patients were able to breathe easily and presented between 1 day and 3 months of age with dysphagia [2,8,[18][19][20][21]. Physical examination of these patients demonstrated either a partial or total BPM.…”

“…Associated congenital anomalies Verma Transposition of great arteries, patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect Lee [4] Ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, vertebral anomalies Kara [3] None Takahashi [5] None Tan [6] Atrial septal defect Ooi [7] None Lim [8] Atrial septal defect, unilateral choanal atresia Thauvin [9] Hypomandibular faciocranial dysostosis Kantaputra [10] Aglossia, micrognathia, microcephaly, absence of mandibular teeth Bent [11] Transposition of great arteries Agarwal [2] None Agarwal [2] None Ludman [12] Hypomandibular faciocranial dysostosis, bicornuate uterus Gartlan [13] Micrognathia, microglossia Schimke [14] Hypomandibular faciocranial dysostosis, patent ductus arteriosus Flannery [15] Mandibulofacial dysostosis, downslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, broad nasal bridge, costovertebral anomalies Neidich [16] Severe first branchial arch anomalies, atrial septal defect Arcand [17] None Hoffman [18] None Chandra [19] None Seghers [20] Auricular and vertebral anomalies Longacre [21] None Fridenberg [22] None…”