Thyroglossal duct cysts. Apropos of 17 cases in the National Hospital Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The thyroglossal duct cysts originate from thyroglossal duct involution default. The case record of 17 patients admitted for that disease in the ORL department of the national hospital of Ouagadougou during those past 7 years, is reviewed. They represent 1.5% of patients operated in this department during the same period, all diseases concerned. In the present report, the thyroglossal duct cysts are essentially observed in children under 10 years old (13/17 patients). In most of the cases (12/17), our patients have needed medical advice for an anterior cervical tumefaction 7 years after the first symptoms. Between clinical and paraclinical findings we give preference to the first ones that can avoid, in most of the cases, a lot of complementary tests which are of limited interest and too expensive in our countries. In the therapeutic field, the Sistrunk technic has been recognized since 1920 as the best method. Our patients who have been operated according to that technic have no tendency to relapse.