Management of Thyroglossal Cyst in Adults: A Single-Institution Experience

Abstract

Objectives: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is the most common congenital anterior neck mass in clinical practice. Due to its congenital origin, presentation in adulthood is uncommon with only 7% of cases presenting in this age group. Data are therefore limited on the management of TDC in adults, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the pattern of the presentation and treatment outcomes, following the management of TDC in a series of adults in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Subjects and methods: A retrospective review of all adult patients with TDCs over a 5-year period was carried out. Sociodemographic data, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were obtained and presented as descriptive statistics.

Results: Seven adult patients, including five males and two females, were managed during the period. Their ages ranged from 19 to 60 years, with a mean of 37 ± 16.4 years. All the patients presented with anterior neck swellings which had been present for a median duration of 3 years. Cysts were located in the infrahyoid position in all instances, and all had Sistrunk operation over a mean operative time of 78 ± 16 min. There were no intraoperative complications. The mean duration of the postoperative stay was 2 days. There was no recurrence after a median follow-up period of 15 months.

Conclusion: This study highlights the rarity of TDC in adults and describes a single institution's experience with the management of adult cases of TDC using the classical Sistrunk operation.

Keywords: Adult; Sistrunk procedure; thyroglossal duct; thyroglossal duct cyst.

Figure 1

(a) Clinical picture of a 60-year-old male with thyroglossal duct cyst taken after induction of anesthesia. (b) Specimen of the Sistrunk procedure performed for the same patient demonstrating a thyroglossal duct tract terminating in a cyst distally, while the excised central hyoid bone is seen proximally