The Undescended Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: A Rare Clinical Encounter of Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in the Base of Tongue

The Undescended Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

Abstract

The thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) commonly presents as an anterior neck swelling. TDCs are a congenital disorder that are usually asymptomatic. It rarely occurs the tongue or at the base of the tongue. The patient usually presents with upper airway obstruction symptoms that need immediate attention. We report a case of an infant who presented with respiratory distress symptoms, requiring immediate intubation. The computed tomography scan images showed a well-circumscribed hypodense collection located at the base of the tongue. Direct laryngoscopy and excision of the cyst were performed under general anaesthesia. The infant recovered after the procedure, and there has been no recurrence since surgery.