Head and Neck ImagingThyroglossal duct cyst
cyst arising from remnants of the thyroglossal duct, an embryonic canal between the foramen caecum and the anlage of the
thyroid gland, which grows as an epithelial
proliferation from the tongue base downwards (see also
ectopic thyroid). Normally this duct obliterates early in fetal life. Thyroglossal duct cysts are usually located on or near the midline, in the neighbourhood of the hyoid bone. In most cases they are below the level of the hyoid bone, typically embedded within the prelaryngeal muscles (
Fig.1). They usually become symptomatic when surinfected. Very rarely a
malignant tumour originates from such a
cyst.
RH
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Axial contrast-enhanced CT-image. Thin-walled cystic lesion (arrowheads), embedded in the prelaryngeal muscles (arrows), just below the level of the hyoid bone.
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Thyroglossal duct cyst, Fig.1 | |