title: Epidermal inclusion cyst versus thyroglossal duct cyst: sistrunk or not?
abstract: Epidermal inclusion cyst (EIC) is a recognized cause of an anterior neck mass in children. Controversy exists as to the proper surgical management of an anterior neck EIC: is simple excision adequate treatment, or is a Sistrunk procedure necessary? A retrospective review of the operative logs of the two senior authors (M.M.A., R.F.W.) from 1993 to the present revealed 16 children, ages 6 months to 9 years (mean, 4.5 years), with a diagnosis of anterior neck EIC. An accurate intraoperative diagnosis of an EIC in all cases allowed for a simple excision of the mass rather than a Sistrunk procedure. The final histologic diagnosis was EIC in all 16 patients. Follow-up of these 16 patients for a mean of 4.5 years revealed no recurrences or complications. When the diagnosis of EIC can be made confidently in the operating room, simple excision is an adequate surgical treatment.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: D P
authors: DP
authors: Sullivan
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Liberatore
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: April
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sassoon
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Ward
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome