Latakia, Sept. 4 (SANA) A medical team at Latakia National Hospital successfully removed cysts from both sides of the neck of a four-year-old child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as Branchio-Oto-Renal (BOR) syndrome, the hospital said.
Ivan Asaad, a resident physician who supervised the procedure at the hospital’s otolaryngology department, told SANA the child had been admitted with bilateral cystic neck masses, preauricular fistulas and conductive hearing loss linked to persistent middle-ear effusion.
Asaad said the combination of symptoms prompted doctors to investigate an underlying genetic condition rather than treating the branchial cysts as isolated abnormalities.
Tests showed no clear kidney involvement, although BOR syndrome can affect the kidneys and is associated in some cases with mutations in the EYA1 gene. Some medical references estimate the disorder affects about one in 70,000 births, he said.
The child underwent surgery under general anesthesia to completely remove the cysts, which extended deep into the neck and lay close to major blood vessels and nerves. Doctors also inserted ventilation tubes into the eardrums.
Asaad said the procedure was completed without surgical or neurological complications, and the child was discharged in good condition about five hours later.
The hospital has established a follow-up plan to monitor the child’s hearing and kidney function and recommended genetic counseling and, where possible, screening of family members.
BOR syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that can cause abnormalities of the neck and ears, hearing loss and varying degrees of kidney problems. Asaad said documenting such cases could help doctors recognize the condition earlier and improve diagnosis and treatment.
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