Synonyms: thyroglossal duct cyst
A thyroglossal cyst is a congenital cyst which usually presents in young children. The thyroglossal duct connects the thyroid to the tongue between the fourth and seventh weeks of embryonic development. This duct passes through the muscles of the tongue and then anterior to the hyoid bone and larynx and normally involutes by the tenth week of development. It is thought that a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) represents a segment of the duct that fails to regress and consequently differentiates into epithelial-lined cysts.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/history-examination/thyroglossal-cysts