English

Abstract

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. KEYWORDS Thyroglossal Cyst, Neck Swelling, Thyroglossal Duct