Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T02:32:00.537Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Thyroglossal duct cysts and obstructive sleep apnoea: three case reports and review of the literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2014

F Safiruddin*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
D L Mourits
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
N de Vries
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Faiza Safiruddin, Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1064 AE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands E-mail: faizasafiruddin@hotmail.com

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.

Case reports:

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.

Conclusion:

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.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Mondin, V, Ferlito, A, Muzzi, E, Silver, CE, Fagan, JJ, Devaney, KO et al. Thyroglossal duct cyst: personal experience and literature review. Auris Nasus Larynx 2008;35:1125Google Scholar
2Hirshoren, N, Neuman, T, Udassin, R, Elidan, J, Weinberger, JM. The imperative of the Sistrunk operation: review of 160 thyroglossal tract remnant operations. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009;140:338–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Sistrunk, WE. The surgical treatment of cysts of the thyroglossal tract. Ann Surg 1920;71:121–2Google Scholar
4Hamans, E, Stuck, BA, de Vries, N, Boudewyns, A, Devolder, A, Verbraecken, J et al. Hyoid expansion as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot study. Sleep Breath 2013;17:195201Google Scholar
5Lumeng, JC, Chervin, RD. Epidemiology of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Proc Am Thorac Soc 2008;5:242–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Powell, S, Kubba, H, O'Brien, C, Tremlett, M. Paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea. BMJ 2010;340:c1918Google Scholar
7Kezirian, EJ, Hohenhorst, W, de Vries, N. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy: the VOTE classification. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2011;268:1233–6Google Scholar
8den Herder, C, van Tinteren, H, de Vries, N. Hyoidthyroidpexia: a surgical treatment for sleep apnea syndrome. Laryngoscope 2005;115:740–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Traeger, N, Schultz, B, Pollock, AN, Mason, T, Marcus, CL, Arens, R. Polysomnographic values in children 2-9 years old: additional data and review of the literature. Pediatr Pulmonol 2005;40:2230Google Scholar
10Munson, PD, Thompson, DM, Orvidas, LJ. Obstructive lingual tonsil hypertrophy in recurrent thyroglossal duct cyst. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2007;71:1837–41Google Scholar
11Richard, W, den Herder, C, de Vries, N. Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep-apneoa syndrome [Dutch]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:1193–6Google Scholar