INTRODUCTION: The most common complication in the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts (TDC) is the high index of relapses. An analysis of this index and the influence of previous inflammatory episodes are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 120 consecutive TDC cases operated on during a period of 23 years, from 1972 to 1994, is presented. The statistical study was done using the Chi square test and the contrast of hypothesis for two proportions. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 4.9 years, with 93 cases (77%) being operated before 7 years of age. An inflammatory episode before surgery occurred in 57 cases (47%). Treatment was the Sistrunk technique in 112 cases (93%) and a simple excision of the cyst in 8 cases, with a relapse occurring in 4 of the latter cases (50%). Those cases where the Sistrunk technique was performed were divided into two groups: Group I (56 cases) those patients which had suffered an inflammatory episode before surgery and group II (56 cases) those that had not. Five relapses (8.9%) were found in group I and 2 (3.5%) in group II. CONCLUSIONS: TDC are fore frequent during early childhood, occurring most frequently before 7 years of age. The number of relapses are dramatically reduced when the Sistrunk technique is used, but no significant differences were found in those that had suffered previously an inflammatory episode.
INTRODUCTION: The most common complication in the treatment of thyroglossal duct cysts (TDC) is the high index of relapses. An analysis of this index and the influence of previous inflammatory episodes are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 120 consecutive TDC cases operated on during a period of 23 years, from 1972 to 1994, is presented. The statistical study was done using the Chi square test and the contrast of hypothesis for two proportions. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 4.9 years, with 93 cases (77%) being operated before 7 years of age. An inflammatory episode before surgery occurred in 57 cases (47%). Treatment was the Sistrunk technique in 112 cases (93%) and a simple excision of the cyst in 8 cases, with a relapse occurring in 4 of the latter cases (50%). Those cases where the Sistrunk technique was performed were divided into two groups: Group I (56 cases) those patients which had suffered an inflammatory episode before surgery and group II (56 cases) those that had not. Five relapses (8.9%) were found in group I and 2 (3.5%) in group II. CONCLUSIONS: TDC are fore frequent during early childhood, occurring most frequently before 7 years of age. The number of relapses are dramatically reduced when the Sistrunk technique is used, but no significant differences were found in those that had suffered previously an inflammatory episode.