title: Thyroglossal duct cysts and obstructive sleep apnoea: three case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroglossal duct cysts and obstructive sleep apnoea are commonly occurring medical conditions which appear to present independently in patients. However, we noted three cases where the thyroglossal duct cysts influenced the development and/or therapy of obstructive sleep apnoea. In this article, these three case studies are presented, as is a study of the association between thyroglossal duct cysts and obstructive sleep apnoea, preceded by a literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient in the first case study underwent hyoidthyroidpexia for obstructive sleep apnoea, which revealed an unexpected thyroglossal duct cyst. The second patient had previously undergone Sistrunk surgery for the removal of a thyroglossal duct cyst and subsequently presented with obstructive sleep apnoea. Finally, the third patient, who had previously undergone Sistrunk surgery, presented with obstructive sleep apnoea and underwent alternative surgery as hyoidthyroidpexia was no longer possible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, the association between thyroglossal duct cysts and obstructive sleep apnoea has not been addressed previously. The results indicate that the relationship is much stronger than previously thought, and further research is required to investigate the extent of the association and possible causal relations.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery,Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Safiruddin
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery,Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Mourits
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery,Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: de Vries
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery