Thyroglossal duct cysts. A thirty year experience with emphasis on occurrence in older patients.

A total of 79 patients (39 female and 40 male) underwent the Sistruck procedure for thyroglossal duct cysts. Twenty-eight percent of the patients were over 50 years of age and 10 percent were over 60. The age range was 16 months to 82 years. Three patients had thyroidectomies, two of which were for carcinoma, along with resection of a thyroglossal duct cyst. Two patients, one diagnosed preoperatively by needle biopsy, had papillary carcinoma in thyroid tissue of the cyst wall. The length of time from cyst discovery to surgery was the same for patients over 10 years of age. We suggest needle biopsy of all neck masses and also elective operation in a patient of any age, once a diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cysts is made. The Sistrunk procedure is the operation of choice.