Thyroglossal duct cyst

Thyroglossal duct cyst, abbreviated TGDC, is a benign pathology of the head and neck.

General

• Congenital abnormality - common.

Treatment:

• Surgical excision (Sistrunk procedure).
  • May come with a piece of hyoid bone.

Gross

• Midline lesion.

Microscopic

Features:

• Cyst.
  • Lining:
    • Squamous or respiratory epithelium.
    • Cyst contents: debris.
• +/-Thyroid gland.
• +/-Granulomatous inflammation (phagocytosis of debris).

Images:

• Thyroglossal duct cyst - several images (wiki.uiowa.edu).

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No history provided

MASS, SUBMENTAL (MIDLINE), EXCISION:
- SQUAMOUS LINED CYST WITH EXTENSIVE DENUDATION AND, ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION.
- BENIGN SKELETAL MUSCLE.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

COMMENT:
No definite thyroid tissue is identified.  The findings may represent a thyroglossal 
duct cyst.

See also

• Head and neck pathology.