title: Wide anterior neck dissection for management of recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroglossal duct cyst recurrence following resection is attributed to anatomical variability and residual thyroglossal ducts. In adults, thyroglossal duct cyst recurrence is extremely rare and a surgical solution is yet to be well explored. This paper describes our approach to the management of recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts and sinuses in adults using a wide anterior neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed to identify adults who underwent a wide anterior neck dissection for recurrent thyroglossal duct cyst management between 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six males and one female were included in the series (mean age, 26.4 ± 10.9 years). Recurrence occurred at a mean of 18 ± 9.8 months following primary surgical management (3 patients underwent cystectomy and 4 had a Sistrunk procedure). All patients subsequently underwent wide anterior neck dissection; there was no further recurrence over the 12-month average follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper describes a wide anterior neck dissection technique for the management of recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts or sinuses in adults; this approach addresses the variable anatomy of the thyroglossal duct and is associated with minimal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery,Blacktown Hospital,Sydney,Australia.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Westmead Hospital,Sydney,Australia.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gunaratne
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School,University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School,University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riffat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult; Neck Dissection; Recurrence; Thyroglossal Cyst