Outcome of treatment in patients with thyroglossal duct cyst in Zaria: Our experience

Introduction: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital midline neck mass that most commonly present as gradually enlarging painless mass that moves with swallowing and protrusion of tongue, usually noticed in the first decade or in young adult. The aim of this study is to review the treatment outcome of patients with TGDC who presented to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The record of patients managed for TGDC at the Division of Paediatric Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology of Department of Surgery Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria over a 10-year period between January 2007 and December 2016 was reviewed. The information obtained included demographic characteristic and complete clinical information. The data were analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0 software. Results: A total of 19 patients were managed for TGDC within the years under review. The age range of the patients was 2–12 years with mean age and standard deviation of 6.6 and 3.5 years, respectively. Eleven patients (57.9%) presented within 6 months to 3 years of the disease onset. The location of the TGDC in majority of our patients 15 (78.9%) was infrahyoid. Most of the patients 17 (89.5%) had uncomplicated TGDC. Fifteen (79%) of the patients had Sistrunk operation, and no case of recurrence was observed after 2 years. Conclusion: The outcome of treatment of TGDC is good, when early diagnosis and complete surgical excision of the cyst is achieved. Complete excision of the cyst without the removal of the hyoid bone may be adequate for suprahyoid cyst.