A 2-year-old child presents with a painless, cystic, transilluminant swelling in the upper lateral aspect of the neck, present since birth. It moves with swallowing and with protrusion of the tongue. What is the most likely diagnosis?

• A Branchial cyst
• B Dermoid cyst
• C Cystic hygroma
• D Thyroglossal duct cyst ✓

Explanation

A thyroglossal duct cyst is a midline or near-midline cystic neck swelling that moves with swallowing and with protrusion of the tongue, due to its attachment to the hyoid bone. It results from persistence of the thyroglossal duct. A cystic hygroma is typically lateral, transilluminant, and does not move with tongue protrusion. Branchial cyst is lateral and does not move with swallowing.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.