Common Congenital Anomalies

It is not unusual to detect congenital anomalies in the neonatal period. Fortunately, many of them are benign and inconsequential. These may include branchial cleft cysts, bifid uvula, oral inclusion cysts, and thyroglossal duct cysts. In the newborn period, it is vital for health care providers to be cognizant of the anomalies. The health care provider must differentiate those that are benign and need only reassurance from those that may require additional evaluation and referral. In this article, we discuss the etiologies, clinical presentations, and management of several of these anomalies.