Thyroglossal duct remnant: seven years analysis

To analyze the clinico-pathological findings and surgical outcome in a patient population that underwent surgical procedures for the excision of the thyroglossal duct remnant (TGDR) i.e., cyst or sinus. A retrospective descriptive study was performed to include all patients of thyroglossal duct remnant who underwent the surgical procedures at National Academy of Medical Sciences, Nepal form April, 1998 to April, 2005 A.D. Age, sex, position of the thyroglossal duct remnant, histopathology of the lesion, type of surgery and its outcome with particular emphasis on recurrence were noted. All data were obtained from the patients' admission charts. Thirty clinically diagnosed thyroglossal duct remnant were enrolled in this study. Twenty-seven were histopathologically confirmed thyroglossal duct remnant and remaining three patients were dermoid cyst and tuberculous lymphadenopathy and were excluded from the study. The sex distribution was almost equal. The commonest age group affected by TGDR was less than twenty years (70.38 %) and commonest site was midline subhyoid (85.19 %). The post-operative complication rate of thyroglossal duct remnant was 18.51 % in the present study. Thyroglossal duct remnant is the commonest congenital cervical lesion in the pediatric population. Other clinical conditions of neck can masquerade as thyroglossal duct remnant so histopathological confirmation is mandatory. Sistrunk operation is the standard treatment to minimize recurrence.