THYROGLOSSAL DUCT CYSTS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

A. FRANCHELLA;S. PELLEGRINELLI;F. CARINCI;I. ZOLLINO;G. CARNEVALI;V. CANDOTTO;S. FRANCHELLA;DENOTTI, GLORIA;PIRAS, VINCENZO;G. BRUNELLI

2012-01-01

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Abstract

The thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) represents a retention cyst which arises in a patent portion of the vestigial thyroglossal tract and occurs anywhere in the midline along its pathway from the base of the tongue to the region between the hyoid bone and the thyroid gland. In the period between January 2001 and December 2009, 32 patients underwent to TGDC treatments at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 15 (46.8%) females and 17 (53.2%) males. Age ranged from 2 to 17 years with a mean value of 5.7 at the time of admission. TGDC were treated with anterior neck approach under general anesthesia. Only one case (3.1%) had a recurrence since it was incompletely removed. The diagnosis was made since TGDC had suppuration. The most effective surgical procedure was originally described by Sistrunk in 1920 and modified in 1928. This technique is based on the removal of the central portion of the hyoid bone with a core of tissue from the hyoid bone up to the foramen caecum and of some muscle surrounding the proximal ductules The greatest opportunity for cure is surgery at initial non-inflamed presentation. Once infected, surgical excision is more difficult and recurrence will increase. Our series confirm what reported in the English literature since the only relapsed case was diagnosed during suppuration.