Thyroid cysts, also known as thyroid nodules, are usually benign, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. They appear on the thyroid gland, which a butterfly-shaped reddish-brown gland that wraps around the vocal cords in the esophagus. The thyroid gland is responsible for the regulation of various hormones, particularly during adolescence, that control growth and metabolism. A malfunctioning thyroid can result in weight fluctuations. If you suspect that you have a thyroid cyst or nodule, visit your doctor immediately to have it evaluated.
Visibility
People with thyroid nodules can see them protruding from the thyroid area of the neck if the nodules are large enough. Alternately, thyroid duct cysts are visible by peering down the throat of a child. Sometimes, duct cysts become more apparent and even visible externally when a child grows older and slims down. Thyroid duct cysts result from the migration of the thyroid gland from the base of the tongue through a duct during gestation. Sometimes, during this process, remnants of the ducts remain, eventually becoming cysts.
Pain
In their book, "Pathology of the Head and Neck" Antonio Cardesa and Pieter Johnannes Slotoweg state that duct cysts can become infected, inflamed and filled with fluid, resulting in localized pain. KidsHealth reports that large nodules can also cause localized pain or tenderness at the front of the neck. However, duct cysts and thyroid nodules usually present no symptoms at all, according to Cardesa and Slotoweg.
Irritation
A thyroid nodule can feel like a lump in the neck, particularly when swallowing. Cardesa and Slotoweg list several irritations that could result from thyroid duct cysts. These include a draining sinus, the cyst progressing into a fistula and draining, infection of the cyst and persistent difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia. In rare cases, thyroid cysts in infants cause feeding difficulty and sudden death.
References
- KidsHealth: Thyroid Disease
- "Pathology of the Head and Neck"; Antonio Cardesa and Pieter Johnannes Slotoweg; 2006
