Familial Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

Familial thyroglossal duct cyst is a rare hereditary form of a benign congenital neck mass, known as a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC). TDC is the most common congenital midline neck mass in the pediatric population. They usually present in children, around 6 years of age, but rarely, they may present in adulthood. They present as a painless, palpable mass that develops around the midline and moves with swallowing. Other symptoms might include: fluctuation in size of mass, dysphagia, infection of mass, and mid-neck tenderness. TDCs are caused by abnormal development of the thyroid gland in fetal development. The cause of this abnormal development is largely not known and usually sporadic; however, in rare circumstances TDCs can be inherited. Familial TDC are commonly inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with rare reports of autosomal recessive inheritance. Treatment involves surgery to remove the cyst (mass).