Thyroglossal duct cyst - old and new surgical approach

Abstract

The thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) results from a failure in obliterating the embryogenic duct produced during thyroid migration and it represents the most common type of developmental cyst encountered in the neck region. Material and methods: In the First Surgical Clinic from “Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital Iasi, Iasi, between 1998 to 2021, 21 patients with thyroglossal duct cyst were diagnosed and treated. All medical records were reviewed. Results: The thyroglossal duct cysts are located as midline cysts of the neck in all cases. The mean age was 39.2 years (13-66 years). The treatment performed was a variant of Sistrunk’s procedure in which the thyroglossal tract was excised to a variable extent, with central hyoidectomy. The size of the cyst ranged from 1.2 to 4 cm (mean 2.6 cm). Postoperative course was uneventful in all cases. No recurrence was recorded in this series. We describe a case, a 42 years old women, with asymptomatic mass in the anterior part of the neck found a 6 months before, when the patient was referred us with lithiasic obstructive jaundice (we performed ERCP + laparoscopic cholecystectomy). The treatment performed was a variant of Sistrunk’s procedure in which the thyroglossal tract was excised by minimally invasive video-assisted approach, variation of Miccoli’s technique. Postoperative course was uneventful. The follow-up 1 and 2 years no recorded recurrence and thyroid scintigraphy was normal. Conclusions: The standard surgical approach to TDC is Sistrunk’s operation with low recurrence rates. Although the results and the operative time are the same as in traditional surgery, minimally invasive video-assisted approach has better cosmetic result and a less painful course.