Sonographic Assessment of Thyroglossal Duct Cysts in Children

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the sonographic features of thyroglossal duct cysts (TDCs) in children. We also investigated how the presence of inflammation influences the sonographic appearance. METHODS: We reviewed the sonograms from 36 children (0.5-14 years old) with pathologically proven TDCs. The lesions were evaluated for location, shape, internal echo pattern, internal septa, wall thickness, posterior enhancement, solid components, margins, and fistulas. The sonographic features of 7 lesions that pathologically showed inflammation were also investigated. RESULTS: Most TDCs were midline (77.8%), were located at the hyoid bone (44.4%) or were infrahyoid (38.9%), showed posterior enhancement (77.8%), were unilocular (86.1%), lacked internal septa (91.7%), and had a thin wall (75%). None had a solid component. The internal echo patterns were classified into 4 types: anechoic (25%), homogeneously hypoechoic (16.7%), pseudosolid (16.7%), and heterogeneous (41.6%). Inflammation was confirmed in 78% of the lesions with wall thickening and 100% of the lesions with internal septa. CONCLUSIONS: Most TDCs in children had echogenicity ranging from hypoechoic to heterogeneous. A thick wall and internal septa were considered to correlate with the presence of inflammation but not with the internal echo patterns of TDCs.