Thyroglossal duct cyst in Adult
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs) are embryological remnants that fail to regress after fetal descent of the thyroid gland. TGDCs are by far the most common cervical malformation in children. TGDCs typically present in childhood, with a median age of 5.6 years, as midline, painless, soft masses. There is no sex predominance. At least half of childhood cases present when the TGDC is complicated by infection, in which case the cysts may be painful. Cysts may rarely cause life-threatening airway obstruction.
Codes
ICD10CM:
Q89.2 – Congenital malformations of other endocrine glands
SNOMEDCT:
39462005 – Thyroglossal duct cyst
Q89.2 – Congenital malformations of other endocrine glands
SNOMEDCT:
39462005 – Thyroglossal duct cyst
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Lymphadenitis / lymphadenopathy – The most common source of palpable neck masses in children.
- Dermoid cyst – The second most common cystic neck lesion in children, often midline.
- Epidermoid cyst
- Branchial cleft cyst
- Cutaneous cartilaginous rest of the neck – This is typically present at birth, stable in size, off midline and over the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
- Cystic hygroma
- Fibromatosis
- Thymic cyst
- Bronchogenic cyst
- Midline cervical cleft – These present as midline neck linear lesions found almost exclusively in young white females.
- Midline anterior neck inclusion cyst (MANIC) – A type of superficial midline developmental anomaly
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Updated:08/29/2018
Thyroglossal duct cyst in Adult