Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

  • Etiology: remnant of thyroglossal duct between base of tongue + thyroid bed, occur along path of thyroid descent from foramen cecum at tongue base to lower neck
  • Imaging: paramedian cyst, closely related to strap muscles (sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, omohyoid muscles)
  • US: moves with tongue protrusion + swallowing
  • CT: low density, no contrast enhancement unless infected
  • MRI: T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense, no contrast enhancement unless infected
  • Clinical: 25% suprahyoid, 50% hyoid, 25% infrahyoid

Radiology Cases of Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

US of thyroglossal duct cyst
Transverse (above) and sagittal (below) US of the neck shows a cyst in the midline of the neck that moved in relationship with tongue protrusion.

Clinical Cases of Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

Clinical image of thyroglossal duct cyst
AP (above) and lateral (below) clinical images show a large mass in the midline of the neck.