Thyroglossal duct cyst excision with hyoid bone preservation.

The objective of this study is to assess complete removal of the thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) and its tract(s) to the base of the tongue with sparing of the hyoid bone. This is a prospective cohort study. Tertiary hospital (Zagazig university hospital). This prospective study was carried out on 21 patients who had been diagnosed preoperatively as TGDC or fistula. All patients were managed by dissection and removal of the TGDC and its tract(s) to the base of the tongue with sparing of the hyoid bone. The study was conducted on 12 males (57.14 %) and 9 females (42.85 %) with mean age 6.8 years (4-20 years). After histopathological examination; 16 patients (9 male and 7 female) were proved to have TGDC and 5 patients (3 male and 2 female) were proved to have dermoid cyst. The hyoid bone could be preserved in all cases except in two cases for whom the middle third of the hyoid bone was removed with the specimen. Multiple tracts were found in three cases and could be identified and dissected successfully with sparing of the hyoid bone. Identification, dissection, and complete excision of the TGDC with its attaching tract(s) could be performed without hyoid bone resection with no recurrence and minimal minor complication. The impacts of this hyoid bone preservation versus removal on the pattern of swallowing and retroglossal space need to be studied.