Recurrent Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in a 9-year-old Girl: A Case Reports

A nine-year-old girl presented with a midline neck mass without accompanying symptoms such as fever, pain, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, or hoarseness. The mass, measuring 4x2x1 cm, was firm, movable, and exhibited movement upon swallowing. She previously had surgery for a similar mass diagnosed as a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) three years earlier. Physical examination revealed normal vital signs. She underwent the Sistrunk procedure, excising the cyst and part of the hyoid bone through a single inferior incision, with no tract found during dissection. Postoperative histopathology confirmed TGDC without malignancy. This case highlights that TGDC can occur along the tract from the foramen cecum to the thyroid bed, making the Sistrunk procedure essential to minimize recurrence.