No-Scar Transoral Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Excision in Children

Background: No-scar transoral thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) excision is a newly developed treatment for TGDC, but limited information is available regarding the clinical outcomes in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and effects of transoral TGDC excision in children. Methods: Forty-four children <10 years of age received operative treatment for TGDC from January 2013 to December 2014, and follow-up was performed over 24 months. Clinicopathologic, surgical, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome variable was feasibility of the procedure, and the secondary outcome was patient's cosmetic satisfaction after each operation. Results: Twenty-one patients underwent transoral TGDC excision, and 21 patients underwent conventional excision. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the overall patient and operation factors. However, the rate of identifying the thyroglossal duct during transoral excision was superior to that during conventional excision (p < 0.05), and cosmetic satisfaction was much better in the transoral TGDC excision group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: No-scar transoral TGDC excision in children is a potentially safe and effective methodology that can achieve easy removal of the thyroglossal duct and excellent cosmetic outcomes.