Thyroglossal Duct Cyst — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Thyroglossal Duct CystMFDS Part 1

A 30-year-old patient has a painless midline swelling in the anterior neck. The swelling moves upward on swallowing and on protrusion of the tongue. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Thyroglossal duct cyst

The correct answer is **A, thyroglossal duct cyst**. It typically presents as an anterior midline neck swelling that rises during swallowing and with protrusion of the tongue. This movement reflects the lesion's relationship to the persistent thyroglossal tract, which extends from the foramen caecum at the tongue base and is closely related to the hyoid bone. A dermoid cyst may also be midline but does not characteristically move with tongue protrusion. A branchial cyst is usually lateral, near the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid. A ranula arises in the floor of the mouth, while a cystic hygroma is generally a soft, poorly defined lymphatic malformation that does not show this characteristic movement.

Reference: Taha A, Enodien B, Frey DM, Taha-Mehlitz S. Thyroglossal Duct Cyst, a Case Report and Literature Review. Diseases. 2022;10(1):7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35225860/