Clinical features

Clinical features

The cysts almost always arise in the midline but, when they are adjacent to the thyroid cartilage, they may lie slightly to one side of the midline. Classically , the cyst moves upwards on swallowing and with tongue protrusion, but this can also occur with other midline cysts such as dermoid cysts, as it merely - indicates attachment to the hyoid bone. Thyroglossal cysts may become infected and rupture onto the skin of the neck, presenting as a discharging sinus. Although they often occur in children, they may also present in adults, even as late as the sixth or sev enth decade of life ( Figure 52.66 ). Clinical features

The cysts almost always arise in the midline but, when they are adjacent to the thyroid cartilage, they may lie slightly to one side of the midline. Classically , the cyst moves upwards on swallowing and with tongue protrusion, but this can also occur with other midline cysts such as dermoid cysts, as it merely - indicates attachment to the hyoid bone. Thyroglossal cysts may become infected and rupture onto the skin of the neck, presenting as a discharging sinus. Although they often occur in children, they may also present in adults, even as late as the sixth or sev enth decade of life ( Figure 52.66 ).