Mind the Missing Gap: A Cervical Variant of Type A Esophageal Atresia

<b>Background:</b> Esophageal atresia (EA) type A, characterized by the absence of a tracheoesophageal fistula and typically presenting with a long esophageal gap, usually requires staged repair. <b>Methods:</b> We report a rare case of a newborn with type A EA in which both the proximal and distal esophageal pouches were unexpectedly close and located in the cervical region. This anatomical variant allowed for a successful primary anastomosis through a cervical approach. <b>Results:</b> Initial imaging was misleading, and the true anatomy was clarified only through thoracoscopic exploration, underscoring the importance of intraoperative flexibility. <b>Conclusions:</b> To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a presentation in type A EA, with significant implications for diagnosis and surgical strategy.