A thyroglossal duct cyst causing obstructive sleep apnea in adult

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder. It usually results from the structural compromise of the upper airway. In patients with OSA, the obstruction predominantly occurs along the pharyngeal airway, and also a variety of tumors have been reported to cause such a condition. We present here the case of a thyroglossal duct cyst causing OSA in adult. This case demonstrates that thyroglossal duct cyst or some kind of mass lesions in the airway lesions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of OSA patients.

Keywords: Sleep apnea syndromes; Sleep disorders; Thyroglossal duct cyst.

Fig. 1

Preoperative findings of lingual thyroglossal duct cyst. (A) Stroboscopic findings of huge thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) in the tongue base, (B) axial, (C) coronal, and (D) saggital computed tomography scan showed midline cystic mass in the tongue base. (E) Video fluoroscopic image showed a round shadow pushing the epiglottis posteriorly.

Fig. 2

Postoperative findings. (A) Storoboscopy showed that the cystic mass was removed and (B) video fluoroscopic image showed that the round shadow of cystic mass was disappeared. (C) Histopathology showing the cyst lined by stratified squamous epithelium.