Muhammad Ismail Khan, Khalil Asad, Amir Amanullah, Rafique Ahmad Khattak.
Frequency of Thyroglossal Duct Cysts among Benign Cystic Lesions of the Neck.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;8(1):47-9.

Aim: To determine the frequency of thyroglossal duct cysts among benign cystic lesions of the neck and their clinical presentation and frequency in relation to gender and age in our patients. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out from June 2007 to May 2013 at departments of ENT, DHQ Hospital Lakki Marwat and Mufti Mehmood Memorial Teaching Hospital Dera Ismail Khan. All patients presenting with cystic swellings in the neck, of either sex and of any age were included in the study for the determination of cause and distribution among gender and various age groups. All those cystic neck lesions which turned out malignant on histopathological report were excluded from the study. Each swelling was examined for site, size, number, presence of tenderness, consistency, fluctuation, trans-illumination, upwards movement of the swelling with swallowing and on protrusion of the tongue. Related investigations were carried out in all cases. Thyroid scan, ultrasonography and FNAC were done in each case to reach the diagnosis. Results: Out of 75 benign cystic neck masses, the most frequent ones were thyroglossal duct cysts (fistulas) 32(34.5%), followed by dermoid cysts 14(30.9%). Out of 32 TDCs 19(56.40%) were female and 16(50%) patients presented in the first decade of life. Most of the TDCs 17(53.15%) were located in the infrahyoid position. Mean age of the patients was 11.13 years ± 4.59 SD, with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.2. Conclusion: Thyroglossal duct cysts are still the commonest cause of benign cystic neck lesions. Disease is relatively more common in females and younger age group.

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