Thyroglossal duct cyst

Thyroglossal duct cysts (TDCs) are cervical cysts occurring inapproximately 7% of the population, mainly during childhood. Thecyst usually presents itself as a painless, asymptomatic midlineswelling below the hyoid bone. Differential diagnosis involves branchialcleft cyst, lymphoepithelial cyst, thyroid gland lesions, ranula andlymphadenopathy (of various etiologies). Sonogram (ultrasound) isthe most frequent and appropriate imaging modality in suspectedTDC. Preoperative fine-needle aspiration is an inexpensive and safemethod that can be considered in selected adult patients, having primeimportance to the exclusion of carcinoma. This article presents a TDCof the neck in a 5-year-old boy.