[The selective anterior neck dissection for treating children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts]

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of selective anterior neck dissection on the treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts. Method: The clinical data of 28 patients with recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts were retrospectively analyzed. In accordance with the embryologic and anatomic features of thyroglossal duct cysts, different types of selective neck dissection were applied. Enbloc resection principles were applied to extirpate thyroglossal duct cysts,scarrings and inflammatory granuloma during the operation. Result:All the wounds of 28 patients healed primarily without significant complications including dysphagia, paragammacism, injury of hypoglossal nerve and superior laryngeal nerve. No recurrences were found in all 28 cases with a follow-up period of 24 to 72 months(average 46 months). Conclusion:Selective anterior neck dissection is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the radical treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts.