title: Preoperative computed tomography of suspected thyroglossal duct cysts in children under 10-years-of-age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preoperative computed tomography (CT) features of thyroglossal duct cysts (TDCs), with the main purpose of evaluating criteria helpful in differentiating TDCs from other lesions in children under 10-years-of-age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed at Chonnam National University Hospital for the period of March 2005 to June 2011. Pediatric patients under 10-years-of-age with suspected TDCs were divided into two groups depending on their histopathologic diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 29 pediatric patients with suspected TDCs, 16 patients (55%) had histopathologically confirmed TDCs. Thirteen patients (45%) had dermoid cysts (n=6), ranula (n=3), and inflammatory lesions (n=4). There were no statistically significant differences between the preoperative CT findings and the final histopathologic diagnosis of TDC. There were no major complications resulting from surgical interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT is not helpful in differentiating TDC from other lesions in children under 10-years-of-age. Therefore, we suggest that preoperative CT of suspected TDCs in children should be performed more selectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University, Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Jeonnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Tae Mi
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Joon Kyoo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011900:Ranula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome