J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.
1998 Dec;17(4):353-358.
Ultrasonographic Findings of Thyroglossal Duct Cysts
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Korea.
Abstract
-
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe ultrasonographic findings of thyroglossal duct cysts and correlate it with pathologic finding.
MATERIALS & METHODS: We reviewed the sonograms in fourteen patients with pathologically proven thyroglossal duct cysts. The cysts were evaluated for location, size, shape, internal echotexture and wall thickness on sonography. Color Doppler sonography was done in six patients. These sonographic findings were compared with the pathologic findings including the internal content and the presence of the complication such as hemorrahge or inflammation.
RESULTS
The location of thyroglossal duct cysts was mildline in nine cases, right paramedian in two cases and left paramedian in three cases. Eleven cases from all fourteen cases were in the infrahyoid level and three cases were in th suprahyoid level. Cysts were measured about 9mm-34mm in maximum diameter. The internal echotexture was classified by three patterns : anechoic (n=2), homogeneously hypoechoic (n=4) and heterogeneously hypoechoic (n=8). The wall thickness was less than 2mm in eight cases and thicker than 2mm in six cases. Two cases of them which are thicker than 2mm show increase color Doppler signals. In comparison with ultrasonographic finding with pathological finding, cases of mucous contents show anechoic or homogeneously or heterogeneously hypoechoic in internal echotexture, those of serous contents show anechoic or heterogeneously hypoechoic, and those of pyogenic contents show homogeneously hypoechoic pattern. Inflammation (n=6) was observed in four cases with heterogeneously hypoechoic pattern and thickened wall and two cases of these ases were increased of color Doppler signals. Two cases with homogeneously hypoechoic pattern and wall thickness in those cases were less than 2mm.
CONCLUSION
Thyroglossal duct cysts were mostly located in the midline of infrahyoid level. The ultrasonographic findings of cysts were anechoic, homogeneously or heterogeneouly hypoehoic in internal echotexture with well defined margin. The internal contents of thyroglossal duct cysts were serous, mucinous or pyogenic contents on gross pathologic finding. One must consider internal echotexture, wall thickness, and color Doppler signals in the evaluation of inflammation of thyroglossal duct cysts.
