A Vallecular Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Presenting with Persistent Unexplained Cough in a Toddler

Laryngeal cysts involving the valleculae are rare but well known cause of upper respiratory obstruction. Vallecular cysts are uncommon lesions seen in the pediatric population and mostly present within the first few weeks of life. They may present with diversity of clinical signs and symptoms including failure to thrive, stridor and respiratory distress. Thyroglossal duct cyst, on the other hand, is the most common pediatric congenital anomaly that usually presents as a midline anterior neck mass but may occur anywhere from the foramen cecum to the suprasternal region. We hereby report a case of thyroglossal duct cyst occurring in the vallecular region mimicking a vallecular cyst in a pediatric patient with unexplained cough. Citation: Bitar MA, Kamal M, Rameh C. A Vallecular Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Presenting with Persistent Unexplained Cough in a Toddler. Inter J Otorhinolaryngology. 2014;1(1): 3. Inter J Otorhinolaryngology 1(1): 3 (2014) Page 02 found to be thicker than a usual VC, so decision was made to excise the mass. Excision was carried out with good hemostasis and with minimal cauterization to avoid postoperative edema. The specimen was removed in one piece (Figure 3). Postoperative course & follow-up: The patient tolerated the procedure well and the postoperative period was uneventful with no airway compromise, with good tolerance of oral food intake. Interestingly, the cough subsided immediately postoperatively. The patient has been followed up for 8 years with no recurrence.