D.R.K.L.N. Raju1, S. Sri Krishna Prakash2
BACKGROUND
Thyroglossal duct cyst is a developmental cyst that occurs in 7 % of the population.
These cysts are most commonly seen in paediatric patients. They occur due to
failure of thyroglossal duct to involute and atrophy. Majority of them are found in
infrahyoid region. The purpose of this research was to summarise our three years
of clinical experience in different features of thyroglossal cysts and their surgical
results, with an emphasis on the naked eye extent of a patent thyroglossal duct if
present.
METHODS
This observational study was carried out in the Department of ENT, GVP IHC &
MT – Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh for a period of three years from
January 2016 to 2019. In our study, twenty patients were enrolled. Patients with
cysts were initially diagnosed based on medical history, clinical examination, and
ultrasound sonography (USG) reports.
RESULTS
Patients' clinical and surgical data, including cyst size and position, presence or
absence of the thyroglossal duct, and so on, were analysed. The average age was
11 years. The majority (73.5 percent) were under the age of 15. Males accounted
for 75 percent of the population, while females accounted for 25 %. Midline neck
swelling was found in most of the patients (95 %). Majority (84.5 %) of cysts were
located in the sub-hyoid region. Erythema over swelling was seen in 14.5 % of
patients. Thyroglossal ducts were found to be patent at various lengths and areas.
Majority of patients (75 %) had tract that began from cyst and ended at superior
border of hyoid body while two patients (10 %) had patent thyroglossal duct from
the cyst to the vallecular mucosa. Majority (70 %) cysts had size between 1.6 cm
and 3 cm. Intraoperatively 15 % of cyst got ruptured. Most of them were present
with visible midline neck swelling. None of the cysts had malignant characteristics
in our study.
CONCLUSIONS
In most cases, a patent duct just disappeared at the superior border of body of
hyoid. Complete patent thyroglossal duct from cyst to tongue musculature was
rare. None of the cysts had malignant characteristics in our study.
