Thyroglossal Cyst

This is a cyst that usually occurs in the front of the neck. It develops in the tissue that is sometimes left behind when your thyroid gland is developing at birth.

It is usually painless, soft and round. It may move when you swallow or poke your tongue out. If the cysts become infected, then it may become painful and tender. It may leak pus like fluid. If it becomes more swollen it can occasionally interfere with your swallowing or breathing.

If they become acutely infected, it may require antibiotics and drainage of the pus. Once the acute infection has settled and things are less inflamed, surgery to remove the whole cyst can be considered.

Thyroglossal Cyst Treatment

We would typically take scans to confirm the diagnosis and exclude the rare possibility that this is a thyroid gland in the wrong place. Whilst there may be an option to simply observe it, if you are having problems, then your specialist is likely to advise removal of the lump.

Your surgeon will talk to you about what the surgery involves. If they are not removed adequately, then the recurrence rate can be high. Removal should normally incorporate the mid portion of the hyoid bone which sits behind the cyst.

The hyoid bone is a small horseshoe shaped bone that sits underneath the tongue. The tract of the cyst may travel close to the hyoid bone. Removing this bone as part of the operation, reduces the chance of recurrence.

Sistrunk is the operation to remove a thyroglossal cyst. We would conduct this under general anaesthesia, with a 1-2 night stay in hospital.

In any case, where you need to get expert care from a qualified ENT specialist consultant in Oxford, you can book your consultation today. Firstly, please get in touch with our team by filling out the form here. Priy holds clinics at both Nuffield Health Oxford and GenesisCare.