- Thyroglossal cyst presents as a cystic midline neck swelling usually affecting young children but can occur at any age.
- Development of thyroid cartilage starts at foramen caecum, passes through base of tongue & then descends in front, behind or through the hyoid bone to form the thyroid gland.
- The thyroglossal cyst can occur anywhere in the course of thyroid duct & it may contain the only functioning thyroid tissue in the body.
- Rarely carcinoma may develop in the cyst.
- It’s size increases with upper respiratory tract infection.
- Sometimes it may presents as a draining sinus if it has burst due to infection or has been surgically drained.
- It moves with protrusion of tongue due to it’s attachment to base of tongue.
- Complete surgical excision, includes excision of body of hyoid bone and tongue tissue around the tract in the suprahyoid region.
- Simple excision of cyst without removal of its tract leads to recurrence.
