Duration of an operation | Neck cyst

Duration of an operation

The duration of a neck cyst surgery can be between 30 and 90 minutes. A second operation, which may be necessary due to recurring cysts, is an exception and may take more time. The length of hospital stay can vary greatly depending on the extent of the operation and complications after the operation.

Prognosis after surgery

After an operation a recurrence of a cyst cannot be excluded. However, if the entire cyst (with any fistula that may have occurred) has been removed, the chances of not getting a new cyst are better than if part of it remains in the body. If neck cysts have been surgically removed, no further follow-up is otherwise necessary. However, it is recommended that if swelling of the neck recurs, it should be examined by a doctor.

Can neck cysts be malignant?

As a rule, neck cysts are harmless. However, they can become inflamed. In rare cases they can develop into cancer and become malignant.

A middle neck cyst, which is caused by an unclosed thyroid duct, can contain thyroid tissue. This thyroid tissue can change and become malignant. In this rare case, cancer can develop.

Lateral cysts, which can be caused by enlarged lymph nodes, can lead to the development of lymph gland cancer (lymphoma) in this lymph node. These malignant cells migrate through other tumors in the brain or neck area and collect there. Direct tumors of a lateral neck cyst are extremely rare.

The tumor risk of a lateral neck cyst is higher than that of a medium sized one. A puncture of the cyst can be initiated and the fluid or tissue removed can be examined for malignant changes. Even during an operation, the surgeon can send parts of the cyst to the pathologist and have them examined for abnormalities.

Difference between middle and lateral neck cysts

The difference between central and lateral neck cysts lies in the localization of the cysts. Either the cyst develops in the midline of the neck (median) or laterally under a neck muscle (lateral). The causes of development also differ from each other.

Median cervical cysts develop due to an unclosed canal that runs from the base of the tongue to the thyroid gland. This thyroid gland duct should recede before birth. If this is not the case, a cavity can develop in the middle line of the neck.

The tissue that fills the cavity produces mucus and a cyst forms. Since there is a connection to the thyroid gland in middle neck cysts, it is possible that thyroid gland tissue is found in the cyst. Lateral cervical cysts, on the other hand, are caused by maldevelopment of the cervical tissue.

They can be remnants of so-called gill arches, structures of embryonic development. These should regress before birth. If they do not, they can be the reason for lateral cervical cysts.

In most cases, a lateral cyst develops due to a malformation of the second gillary arch. Another explanation for the development of a lateral neck cyst is epithelial inclusions in lymph nodes located in the lateral neck. However, the causes of lateral neck cysts have not yet been conclusively clarified.