The role of pre-operative infection in the recurrence of thyroglossal duct cyst

he role of pre-operative infection in the recurrence of thyroglossal duct cyst. Objectives: To evaluate the role of pre-operative infection in thyroglossal duct cyst recurrence and post-operative complications of Sistrunk procedure. Methodology: Medical records of 55 patients undergoing thyroglossal duct cyst excision from 1998 to 2005 were reviewed. The following data was collected: age at operation, gender, surgical technique, presence and length of infection prior to operation, time interval between resolution of infection and operation, recurrence, management of recurrence, and complications. Results: Forty-two patients (76.3%) had no recurrence following Sistrunk procedure, while 13 patients (23.7%) underwent one or more additional procedures due to recurrence. Our results indicate that 61.5% (8 of 13) of those with a failed Sistrunk had pre-operative thyroglossal cyst infection that lasted more than 6 months. In 92.3% of patients with recurrence, the interval between resolution of infection and time of operation was less than one month. Conclusion: Effective treatment of thyroglossal duct cyst infection, at least one month pre-operatively, is warranted to reduce post-operative recurrence rate.