Fehrenbach Milan P, Masden Lauren R, Ebelhar Andrew J, Morris Deanna H, Morris Lonnie B, Smith Alyssa J
University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington Kentucky USA.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Med Center Health Bowling Green Kentucky USA.
Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2025 Jul 16;10(4):e70205. doi: 10.1002/lio2.70205. eCollection 2025 Aug.
The purpose of this study is to identify trends in thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) presentation, management, and clinical characteristics in patients before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary referral center and community hospital. Patients were identified using TGDC diagnosis and surgical codes and organized into two cohorts: "Pre-COVID" (May 18th, 2016-March 10th, 2020) and "COVID" (March 11th, 2020-December 31st, 2023). Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and surgical rates and outcomes were obtained.
The case volume of patients presenting with TGDCs did not differ significantly between pre-COVID ( = 121, 52.6%) and COVID ( = 109, 47.4%) periods ( = 0.31). The proportion of pediatric cases increased (35.5% pre-COVID vs. 50.5% COVID, = 0.03). Patients were more likely to present with an infected neck mass or sequelae of infection, such as fistula, in the COVID cohort (10.7% vs. 22.0%, = 0.03). The percentage of patients that underwent surgery for their TGDC (62.8% vs. 69.7%, = 0.33) did not significantly differ.
The presentation or surgical rates of patients presenting with TGDC in the pre-COVID vs. COVID periods did not significantly change. However, COVID patients were more likely to present with an infected mass or sequelae of infection, suggesting delays in seeking care until infection occurred or greater infection rates in these cysts. Future studies with larger sample sizes may help clarify trends in TGDC case volume before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining variances in referral and presentation patterns.
Level III.
本研究旨在确定新冠疫情前后甲状腺舌管囊肿（TGDC）患者的临床表现、治疗方式及临床特征的变化趋势。
在一家三级转诊中心和社区医院进行回顾性病历审查。通过TGDC诊断和手术编码识别患者，并分为两个队列：“新冠疫情前”（2016年5月18日至2020年3月10日）和“新冠疫情期间”（2020年3月11日至2023年12月31日）。获取患者的人口统计学信息、临床特征、手术率及手术结果。
新冠疫情前（n = 121，52.6%）和新冠疫情期间（n = 109，47.4%）出现TGDC的患者病例数无显著差异（P = 0.31）。儿科病例的比例有所增加（新冠疫情前为35.5%，新冠疫情期间为50.5%，P = 0.03）。在新冠疫情队列中，患者更有可能出现颈部感染性肿块或感染后遗症，如瘘管（10.7% vs. 22.0%，P = 0.03）。因TGDC接受手术的患者比例（62.8% vs. 69.7%，P = 0.33）无显著差异。
新冠疫情前和疫情期间出现TGDC的患者的临床表现或手术率没有显著变化。然而，新冠疫情期间的患者更有可能出现感染性肿块或感染后遗症，这表明患者在感染发生之前延迟就医或这些囊肿的感染率更高。未来更大样本量的研究可能有助于阐明新冠疫情前后TGDC病例数的变化趋势，解释转诊和就诊模式的差异。
三级。
