Diagnosis
Thyroglossal duct cyst
A congenital midline neck cyst formed by the incomplete closure of the thyroglossal duct.
Etiology
Cause [kig]
A cyst formed by the incomplete closure of the thyroglossal duct, an embryological structure formed during the thyroid gland’s descent from the base of the tongue to the lower neck
Pathophysiology [kig]
Clinical presentation:
Infection
Fistula/sinus
Complications [kig]
Carcinoma (< 1% of thyroglossal duct cysts)
Recurrence after surgery (10%)
Laryngotracheal injury during surgery
Epidemiology
Incidence per 100.000 [ryu][og9]
Symptoms & findings
Symptoms
None listed.
Clinical findings
None listed.
Anamneses
None listed.
Localized findings
Approach
Ultrasound collum
CT collum
MRI collum
Biopsy
Treatment
Infected cysts should be treated with antibiotics prior to surgery [kig]
Amoxicillin or clindamycin
Ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation
Surgery:
Sistrunk’s procedure: surgical excision of the cyst and tract [ryu]
Sistrunk’s procedure combined with thyroidectomy (hormone replacement therapy)
Differential diagnoses
Branchial cleft cyst, Dermoid Cyst, Emphysema, Hematoma, Lipoma, Lymphadenopathy, Lymphoma, Paraganglioma, Thyroid cancer, Toxic nodular goiter
References
[1] Amos J, Sutton AE, Shermetaro C. Thyroglossal Duct Cyst. [Updated 2025 Jul 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519057/
[2] Thompson LD, Herrera HB, Lau SK. A Clinicopathologic Series of 685 Thyroglossal Duct Remnant Cysts. Head Neck Pathol. 2016 Dec;10(4):465-474.
[3] Mondin V, Ferlito A, Muzzi E, Silver CE, Fagan JJ, Devaney KO, Rinaldo A. Thyroglossal duct cyst: personal experience and literature review. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2008 Mar;35(1):11-25.