Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Abbreviated Review and Case Report

The thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common developmental cyst of the neck. The cyst typically occurs along the midline of the neck on the ventral surface. Malignant transformation is rare and can be diagnosed only after histologic examination of a biopsy specimen. This article presents a brief, focused narrative review, which includes a discussion of successful treatment of a TGDC, and a single case report that describes a Sistrunk-like procedure.

Intralaryngeal Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Implications for the Migratory Pathway of the Thyroglossal Duct

An atypically located thyroglossal duct cyst in a 42-year-old man is described. A purely intralaryngeal thyroglossal duct cyst is extremely rare and can mimic other laryngeal lesions. This case demonstrates that thyroglossal duct cyst is a possible cause of intralaryngeal swellings and would have significant implications for the manner in which they are managed.

Total persistence of thyroglossal duct with direct communication between cyst and foramen caecum

During embryonic development the thyroid gland migrates through the thyroglossal duct from the pharyngeal endoderm to the anterior cervical region. The final step in this process is the total obliteration of the thyroglossal duct. A case is presented of a patient with a thyroglossal cyst together with a complete failure of the obliteration of the duct, which caused regurgitations of mucopurulent material after the expression of the cyst. This indicates a complete failure of the obliterative process. To the best of our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been described previously in the literature.

[First-intention surgical treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts in children: apropos of 99 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDcs) is the most common malformation of the neck. The risk of infection and malignant transformation impose its treatment.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of our study were: 1) to specify some points about the symptomatology and preoperative evaluation necessary for TGDcs diagnosis; 2) to analyse the factors who can explain an unsuccessful surgical treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our study is based on a retrospective review of cases and a review of the literature. From 1981 to 2000, 99 children with a mean age of five years were treated for a TGDcs with a surgical procedure in the Grenoble University Hospital. 3 excision and 96 Sistrunck's procedure were performed. In all cases a histological study was made.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography was the most frequent preoperative evaluation. We have had 7 complications: 3 haematoma, 2 abscess and 2 desunited scar. 6 children have had recurrent disease. Among these 6 children, 3 have had an excision and 3 a Sistrunck's procedure. No case of malignant transformation was reported.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography is the first preoperative evaluation to obtain before surgical treatment of a TGDcs. Sistrunck's procedure is the best surgical treatment with a value of recurrence from 1% to 10%. Areas of surgical failure included breaking of cyst during the dissection, inadequate hyoïd bone resection, an anatomical variation with many ductuli in the base of tongue, inadequate muscles of tongue resection.

[Salivary gland drainage into the thyroglossal duct]

BACKGROUND

Failure in regression of the thyroglossal duct is one of the most common reasons for midline swellings in the neck. Several authors have described recurrent thyroglossal duct remnants with persisting draining sinuses. However, few have described accessory salivary glands that drain into the thyroglossal duct.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this article we report two such cases with midline salivary glands in the floor of the mouth.

RESULTS

These two patients were subsequently successfully treated with radical tissue resection in the area between the hyoid bone and foramen cecum.

INTERPRETATION

Preoperative fistulography or sinography was useful to demonstrate the ductal ramification of the salivary glands, and use of methylene blue during surgery proved of significant value for the result.

Morphology of the human thyroglossal tract: a histologic and macroscopic study in infants and children

The anatomic development of thyroglossal tract remnants is not understood at present. For analysis of morphology and growth patterns of thyroglossal tract remnants, we used histologic whole organ serial sections to determine developmental changes through the first years of life. Larynges of 58 infants and children ages 1 month to 13 years were obtained in whole organ serial step-sections in an axial plane. The slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Alcian blue, and periodic acid-Schiff stains. Altogether, 3,247 histologic slices were examined. The resulting data were then correlated with the age and sex of the specimens. We found, in 24 cases (41.3%), remnants of the thyroglossal tract or ectopic thyroid tissue. In 4 specimens (16.6%), a complete thyroglossal tract could be observed that presented a ventral path in relation to the hyoid bone with no contact with the perichondrium of the cartilage. Hormonal activity of ectopic thyroid tissue was proven in 20 cases (34.5%). Thyroid follicles were located in 2 cases (3.5%) in the hyoid bone. The thyroglossal ducts revealed a modest tendency for a left-sided pathway, whereas thyroid follicles were located more on the right paramedian side. Morphometric data on the development and structure of the thyroglossal tract and the thyroid follicles during infancy and childhood are presented. The study provides quantitative data of clinical interest that elucidate the anatomy of thyroglossal tract remnants. In addition, our investigation supports Sistrunk's operative approach for avoiding recurrences in the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts.

Pediatric head and neck lesions

Commonly encountered head and neck lesions in children are described with an emphasis on evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Congenital lesions typically require excision, although hemangiomas usually resolve spontaneously. Acute suppurative lymphadenitis is common and readily diagnosed. Chronic lymphardenitis remains a diagnostic challenge and must be differentiated from malignancy. Lesions that do not respond to antibiotics should be biopsied to exclude neoplasms.

Thyroid hemiagenesis accompanying a thyroglossal duct cyst: a case report

A case of thyroid hemiagenesis discovered incidentally in a patient presenting with a thyroglossal duct cyst is reported. Thyroid embryology is briefly reviewed. Various characteristics of thyroid hemiagenesis and thyroglossal duct cysts are explored.

Ossified thyroglossal cyst--is it of embryological significance?

We report a case of a partly ossified thyroglossal cyst in close proximity to the hyoid bone and discuss the possible embryological significance of this. Thyroglossal cysts occurring within the hyoid bone or deep to the hyoid periosteum support previous suggestions that the thyroglossal tract can sometimes be trapped within the developing hyoid bone.

An unusual lateral neck cyst with the combined features of a bronchogenic, thyroglossal, and branchial cleft origin

Soft tissue cystic masses arising in the neck in children are commonly of embryologic origin and often surgically excised. Depending on location and histology, they can be classified as thyroglossal duct, branchial cleft, or rarely bronchogenic in origin. We present an unusual case of an infant with a lateral neck mass that communicates with the midtrachea. The histologic appearance is that of a combination of the features seen in cysts of branchial cleft and thyroglossal duct origin. The possible embryologic development of such a lesion is discussed.

Common congenital anomalies of the neck. Embryology and surgical anatomy

A good knowledge of embryology and surgical anatomy allows for the anticipation of intraoperative findings, and, hence, for safer and more efficient care of patients with congenital anomalies of the neck. Presumptive thyroglossal anomalies that are at or above the level of the hyoid mandate extra vigilance: the patient may not have sufficient thyroid tissue in the usual thyroid location. The discontinuous character of thyroglossal tracts, related to ontogenesis, ordains dissection to the lingual mucosa. First branchial cleft cysts and fistulas require knowledge of facial nerve anatomy; in some of these cases, the facial nerve is best identified in the temporal bone. Branchial cysts, sinuses, and fistulas only can be assigned to a specific pouch-cleft by their anatomic relations to cervical structures.

Computed tomography and the thyroglossal duct cyst

Thyroglossal duct cysts (TDC) classically present as midline neck masses in close relation to the hyoid bone; yet--not uncommonly--their locations may be varied from the midline and from the hyoid. By means of the diagnostic modality of computed tomography (CT), high-resolution images of several cases of alternate presentations and locations of the TDC are examined. Included are examples of TDC in the suprahyoid, transhyoid, infrahyoid, and lateral positions. The potential value of CT in the diagnosis of the unusual cyst will be demonstrated and discussed.

CT of thyroglossal duct cysts

A retrospective analysis of surgically proved cases of thyroglossal duct cysts was performed in an attempt to determine the characteristics of these lesions using computed tomography (CT). We evaluated 12 preoperative cases and two cases with postoperative complications. Ten patients with lesions that could be confused either clinically or radiographically with these cysts were also evaluated to develop a systemized radiologic differential diagnostic approach for the evaluation of anterior triangle neck lesions. CT enables the differentiation of thyroglossal duct cysts from other anterior triangle lesions based on location, CT values, and alterations in the adjacent soft tissues.

Cysts of the thyroglossal duct

Experiences with 53 consecutive patients undergoing surgical excision of thyroglossal duct cysts are reported. Four patients (7.5%) developed recurrent cysts after surgery. Analysis of cases revealed the following factors to contribute to an increased risk of recurrence: young age, skin involvement by the cyst, lobulation of the cyst, rupture of the cyst, and failure to follow the second principle advocated by Sistrunk.

Radiologic findings in persistent thyroglossal tract fistulas

Recurrent cysts and persistent fistulas are frequent complications of thyroglossal cystectomy if the excision is not extended through the hyoid bone to the foramen cecum. In 3 cases of persistent thyroglossal tracts, fistulography was performed and found to be valuable in demonstrating the extent of the tract. Surgical excision was completed and specimens were examined histologically. The retained upper portion of the thyroglossal tract was the established cause of the recurrent symptoms; removal of the entire tract up to the foramen cecum was confirmed as the recommended procedure.

Papillary adenocarcinoma of a thyroglossal duct cyst

Carcinoma in thyroglossal duct tissue is a rare occurrence. A case of papillary adenocarcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is presented. Local excision by the Sistrunk technic appears adequate for the noninfiltrating, nonmetastatic lesion. Thyroid hormone should be given as a suppressive agent. Continuous follow-up is necessary for the rest of the patient's life.

Thyroid carcinomas arising in thyroglossal ducts

Six cases of thyroid carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst are described and combined with previously reported cases to provide a total of 66 cases for retrospective analysis. Most presented as benign thyroglossal duct cyst, and the malignant nature of the lesion was not recognized until the permanent pathology sections were reviewed. Eight of 10 patients with metastatic disease in retrospect had preoperative indications of malignancy as manifest by clinically suspicious nodes or a thyroglossal cyst larger than the mean for the series. The primary cell type in all cases was papillary thyroid carcinoma. Local resection by the Sistrunk method and suppressive doses of thyroid are recommended for the patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst when there is no evidence of extension of the malignancy beyond the confines of the cyst. The patient presenting with metastatic carcinoma should, of course, be treated with appropriate local resection, hormonal manipulation, thyroid ablation, and lymphadenectomy as indicated by his age and sex, the cell type of the tumor, and the extent of local and metastatic disease.