A newborn presents with a midline neck mass that moves upward on swallowing and on tongue protrusion. This is most likely a remnant of which embryological structure?

• A Thyroglossal duct ✓
• B Second pharyngeal pouch
• C Branchial cleft cyst
• D Cervical sinus of His

Explanation

The thyroid gland descends from the foramen cecum at the base of the tongue, through the thyroglossal duct, to its final position in the neck. Persistence of this duct forms a thyroglossal duct cyst, which characteristically moves upward with swallowing and tongue protrusion because the duct's fibrous remnant is attached to the hyoid bone (which moves with the tongue). Branchial cleft cysts are typically lateral and do not move with tongue protrusion.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.