Thyroglossal Duct Cyst - Solon,OH

Hi K.-

My eldest son had this...silly first time mom...I thought it was a 'adams apple'...until my mom pointed out that boys don't get them til later...lol

We did have the surgery...and I too was worried about the 'scar'. They were very careful to make the incision in a 'neck crease'...and now (he is 22) you would never know he had had anything removed!

At the time (some 18 years ago) it was outpatient surgery...and he was FINE!!

***I of course, was a wreck!!***

Best Luck!
michele/cat

Hi, I live right by you, in Bainbridge. My daughter is now 17 and had it removed when we found it at age 7. A Cleveland Clinic doc removed it (I no longer see him listed, however, Dr. Robert Katz is still there at Solon office) with a barely visible scar of less than an inch, above the neck crease. At the time, the surgery was done downtown. While surgery is scary, I can assure you that all was fine. She was her regular self the next day after sleeping it off (and we did go home, outpatient). These cysts tend to get infected, hence the removal. They said it was a much more involved procedure should they become infected, and they typically will, so I wouldn't recommend putting it off.

Best of luck to you!

Michele/Catwalk is just like me!!! My son had this and I too, thought it was an Adam's Apple. Duh!! He was only 4! (3 at the time it was noticed).

So, anyway, I didn't consider other options and about 2 weeks after his 4th birthday it was removed. It was an easy surgery and as Michele/Catwalk said, they do the incision in the neck crease. I can't even see his unless I am looking for it. It healed very quickly. When he got back from surgery he was full of energy!! He went home the next day. I don't regret having it removed and he healed great. Kids bounce back so quickly. The scar is fine and I don't fear that he will have any issues with it when he's older.

It can be intimidating to think of your child's neck being cut open, but it's really okay. It will be good to get ride of it. Best of luck!!!!

once again, I've learned something- thanks Mamapedia!

I researched a little bit, & please know that the scarring seems minimal. & as you said, no parent wants their child to go thru this....but it is important to follow thru. I think one of the most important factors is to make sure there is no actual thyroid tissue present. Surgery is the only way to determine this. & I must say...recovery seems a lot easier than tonsils! I wish you Peace.

Hi K.---Did some checking on the internet to see what this cyst is like. It looks like that ultimately surgery is the best choice, if you want to have the cyst gone. And trust me, I am one who would look at medical intervention as a last resort. When there are 'mechanical/structural' issues with the body, then physical intervention is usually required.

Please do not worry about your little one going through this procedure. Although no mom wants to see their child go through surgery, kids are extremely resiliant. My first, my little girl, had surgery to correct crossed eyes at 7 months of age. By 4, she had had at least one set of tubes and at least one more surgery on her eyes. You gotta do what you gotta do.

In the meantime, you can always make sure the family is eating an optimal diet, one that consists mostly (80-90% of calories) of plants. Getting all of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, found in those plants would give his body the building blocks necessary to do any healing or prevention of infection on its own. Try to eat a rainbow. Every fruit and veggie has common vitamins in minerals, although in different ratios, but the colors are what is important. The colors indicate the different antioxidants that are available in those foods---lycopene in red, for example. You get your flavanoids from dark colors, berries and wine/red and purple grapes and dark chocolate. Let me know if you would like any more info on this subject.

Good luck with everything...and don't worry. D.