Neck: thyroglossal cyst: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Neck: thyroglossal cyst

Sample item

A 6-year-old child has a painless 2 cm midline swelling just below the hyoid bone that moves upward when the tongue is protruded. What is the embryological origin?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Remnant of the thyroglossal duct that descends from the foramen caecum

The thyroid develops from a median endodermal diverticulum at the foramen caecum and descends in front of the hyoid and larynx via the thyroglossal duct, which normally disappears. A remnant forms a midline cyst that moves upward with swallowing and tongue protrusion because of its attachment to the tongue base. Treatment is the Sistrunk operation, which removes the cyst with the central hyoid body.

Option by option

  • A. Persistence of the second branchial cleft

    A second branchial cleft cyst is lateral, anterior to sternocleidomastoid.

  • B. Remnant of the thyroglossal duct that descends from the foramen caecum (correct)

    Correct. The cyst arises from the thyroglossal duct remnant.

  • C. Lymphatic malformation (cystic hygroma)

    A cystic hygroma is usually lateral, transilluminates and does not move with tongue protrusion.

  • D. Remnant of the third pharyngeal pouch

    The third pouch gives the inferior parathyroids and thymus, not a midline cyst.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Remnant of the thyroglossal duct that descends from the foramen caecum. The thyroid develops from a median endodermal diverticulum at the foramen caecum and descends in front of the hyoid and larynx via the thyroglossal duct, which normally disappears.

Why is "Persistence of the second branchial cleft" not the answer?

A second branchial cleft cyst is lateral, anterior to sternocleidomastoid.

Why is "Lymphatic malformation (cystic hygroma)" not the answer?

A cystic hygroma is usually lateral, transilluminates and does not move with tongue protrusion.

Why is "Remnant of the third pharyngeal pouch" not the answer?

The third pouch gives the inferior parathyroids and thymus, not a midline cyst.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neck: thyroglossal cyst in Anatomy. A remnant forms a midline cyst that moves upward with swallowing and tongue protrusion because of its attachment to the tongue base. Treatment is the Sistrunk operation, which removes the cyst with the central hyoid body.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neck: thyroglossal cyst?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.