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Primary thyroglossal duct cyst surgery: a UK tertiary referral paediatric centre experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2023

R S Pinto Open the ORCID record for R S Pinto [Opens in a new window] ,
S De Open the ORCID record for S De [Opens in a new window]  and
M Krishnan
R S Pinto
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
S De
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
M Krishnan*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr M Krishnan, ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool L14 5AB, UK E-mail: madhankumar.krishnan@alderhey.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Objective

To report clinical outcomes following primary thyroglossal duct cyst surgery.

Methods

Retrospective case note review of 79 patients undergoing surgery for suspected thyroglossal duct cyst at a tertiary referral paediatric centre between 2014 and 2018.

Results

Thyroglossal duct cyst was confirmed histologically in 57.0 per cent. Classic Sistrunk procedure was performed in 60.0 per cent, modified Sistrunk procedure with central neck dissection in 35.6 per cent, and cystectomy in 4.4 per cent. Overall recurrence rate was 15.6 per cent; of recurrence patients, 85.7 per cent had a classic Sistrunk procedure and 14.3 per cent had cystectomy. There were no recurrences in modified Sistrunk procedure with central neck dissection patients. Post-operative infection occurred in 14.8 per cent undergoing classic Sistrunk procedure, 12.5 per cent undergoing modified Sistrunk procedure with central neck dissection and 0 per cent undergoing cystectomy. Return to theatre was required in 7.4 per cent undergoing classic Sistrunk procedure and 0 per cent undergoing modified Sistrunk procedure with central neck dissection or cystectomy. None experienced post-operative haemorrhage.

Conclusion

Modified Sistrunk procedure with central neck dissection for primary thyroglossal duct cyst was not associated with increased morbidity compared with classic Sistrunk procedure, and appears to have lower recurrence risk.

Keywords

Thyroglossal CystOtolaryngologyRadiology

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 139 , Issue 11 , November 2025 , pp. 1034 - 1039
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Mr R Pinto takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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