Objective: Congenital neck masses, particularly thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDC) and branchial cleft anomalies (BCA), are commonly encountered in clinical practice and are typically treated surgically. However, the impact of these surgeries on postoperative quality of life (QoL) and scarring has been less explored. This study aimed to compare the QoL and scar outcomes between patients undergoing surgery for TGDC and BCA. Material and Methods: This retrospective case-control study included adult patients who underwent surgery for TGDC or BCA at a tertiary center. Patients were assessed for QoL using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and scar condition using the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS). Data were collected through the hospital’s computer-based data system and a survey administered by phone. Results: A total of 51 patients with a mean age of 34.37±14.98 years were included. The mean total GBI score was 1.74±5, with no significant difference observed between the TGDC and BCA groups (p=0.109). The mean total PSAS score was 8.39±4.09, with no significant difference between the groups regarding scar appearance (p=0.303). Additionally, no correlation was found between the QoL scores (GBI) and scar scores (PSAS). The preoperative infection history did not significantly affect the postoperative outcomes. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that surgeries for TGDC and BCA lead to minimal improvement in QoL, with minimal scarring compared to normal skin. These outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. Based on the results, scarring did not adversely affect QoL in these patient populations.

Amaç: Başta tiroglossal kanal kisti (TKK) ve brankial kleft anomalileri (BKA) olmak üzere konjenital boyun kitleleri klinik pratikte yaygın olarak karşılaşılan ve genellikle cerrahi olarak tedavi edilen patolojilerdir. Ancak, bu cerrahilerin postoperatif yaşam kalitesi (YK) ve skar üzerindeki etkisi çok fazla incelenmemiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, TKK ve BKA cerrahisi geçiren hastalar arasındaki YK ve yara izlerinin sonuçlarını karşılaştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu retrospektif vaka-kontrol çalışmasına üçüncü basamak sağlık merkezinde TKK veya BKA sebebiyle opere edilen erişkin hastalar dâhil edilmiştir. Hastaların YK değerlendirmesi için Glasgow Fayda Envanteri [Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI)] ve yara izi değerlendirmesi için Hasta Skar Değerlendirme Ölçeği [Patient Scar Asessment Scale (PSAS)] kullanılmıştır. Veriler, bilgisayar tabanlı hastane veri sistemi ve telefonla hastalara ulaşılarak yapılan bir anket ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya ortalama yaşı 34,37±14,98 yıl olan toplam 51 hasta dâhil edilmiştir. Ortalama toplam GBI skoru 1,74±5 olup, TKK ve BKA grupları arasında anlamlı bir fark gözlemlenmemiştir (p=0,109). Ortalama toplam PSAS skoru 8,39±4,09 olup, yara görünümü açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark izlenmemiştir (p=0,303). Ayrıca, yaşam kalitesi (GBI) skorları ile yara izi skoru (PSAS) arasında bir korelasyon bulunmamıştır. Preoperatif enfeksiyon öyküsünün, postoperatif sonuçlar üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi olmamıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, TKK ve BKA cerrahilerinin YK üzerinde minimal bir iyileşmeye ve normal ciltle karşılaştırıldığında minimal bir yara izi oluşumuna yol açtığını göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, gruplar arasında anlamlı bir farklılık göstermemektedir. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre yara izi bu hasta grubunda yaşam kalitesi üzerine olumsuz bir etki oluşturmamaktadır.

1. Al-Khateeb TH, Al Zoubi F. Congenital neck masses: a descriptive retrospective study of 252 cases. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007;65(11):2242-7. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
2. Pincus RL. Congenital neck masses and cysts. In: Bailey BJ, Calhoun KH, eds. Head and Neck Surgery: Otolaryngology. 3rd ed. New York: Lippincott-Raven; 2001. p.931-4.
3. Balikci HH, Gurdal MM, Ozkul MH, et al. Neck masses: diagnostic analysis of 630 cases in Turkish population. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;270(11):2953-8. [PubMed] 
4. Zhang P, Tian X. Recurrent neck lesions secondary to pyriform sinus fistula. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;273(3):735-9. . [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
5. Pupić-Bakrač J, Jayasekara S, Peiris PM, et al. Malignancy and "violated neck" rates in consecutive cohort of 79 adult patients with solitary cystic neck mass-lessons learned and recommendations for clinical practice guidelines. J Craniofac Surg. 2024;35(4):e380-e385. [PubMed] 
6. Tazegul G, Bozoğlan H, Doğan Ö, Sari R, Altunbaş HA, Balci MK. Cystic lateral neck mass: thyroid carcinoma metastasis to branchial cleft cyst. J Cancer Res Ther. 2018;14(6):1437-38. [PubMed] 
7. Newton JR, Shakeel M, Ram B. Evaluation of endoscopic sinus surgery by Glasgow benefit inventory. J Laryngol Otol. 2008;122(4):357-60. [PubMed] 
8. Koenraads SP, Aarts MC, van der Veen EL, Grolman W, Stegeman I. Quality of life questionnaires in otorhinolaryngology: a systematic overview. Clin Otolaryngol. 2016;41(6):681-8. [PubMed] 
9. Robinson K, Gatehouse S, Browning GG. Measuring patient benefit from otorhinolaryngological surgery and therapy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1996;105(6):415-22. [PubMed] 
10. Seyyah M, Yurdalan SU. Cultural adaptation and validation of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale for Turkish use. Burns. 2018;44(5):1352-6. [PubMed] 
11. van de Kar AL, Corion LU, Smeulders MJ, Draaijers LJ, van der Horst CM, van Zuijlen PP. Reliable and feasible evaluation of linear scars by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;116(2):514-22. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
12. Draaijers LJ, Tempelman FR, Botman YA, et al. The patient and observer scar assessment scale: a reliable and feasible tool for scar evaluation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;113(7):1960-5; discussion 1966-7. [PubMed] 
13. McQueen A, Al-Zuhir N, Ali T. Incidentalomas in the head & neck. Br J Radiol. 2023;96(1142):20220164. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC] 
14. Howlett J, Horwich P, Bullock MJ, et al. An unusual presentation of a branchial cleft cyst in a 70-year-old. Otolaryngology Case Reports. 2018;6:16-8. [Link] 
15. Ducic Y. Thyroglossal duct cysts in the elderly population. Am J Otolaryngol. 2002;23(1):17-9. [PubMed] 
16. Pomponio MK, Conti KR, Ohlstein JF, Khan I, Koch T. Thyroglossal Duct Cysts (TGDC) in the elderly population: the role of conservative management. Cureus. 2024;16(10):e72183. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC] 
17. Hendry J, Chin A, Swan IR, Akeroyd MA, Browning GG. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory: a systematic review of the use and value of an otorhinolaryngological generic patient-recorded outcome measure. Clin Otolaryngol. 2016;41(3):259-75. [PubMed]  [PMC] 
18. Iaremenko AI, Kolegova TE, Sharova OL. Endoscopically-associated hairline approach to excision of second branchial cleft cysts. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):618-27. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC] 
19. Ho CF, Yang TH, Hsin LJ, et al. Postauricular incision versus conventional transcervical incision in second branchial cleft cyst excision: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Craniofac Surg. 2022;33(8):2365-71. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC] 
20. So YK, Jeong JI, Youm HY, Jeong HS. Endoscope-assisted intra-oral resection of the external thyroglossal duct cyst. Am J Otolaryngol. 2011;32(1):71-4. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
21. Paek SH, Choi JY, Lee KE, Youn YK. Bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) endoscopic Sistrunk operation in patients with thyroglossal duct cyst: technical report of the novel endoscopic Sistrunk operation. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2014;24(3):e95-8. Erratum in: Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2014;24(5):469. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
22. Kim CH, Byeon HK, Shin YS, Koh YW, Choi EC. Robot-assisted Sistrunk operation via a retroauricular approach for thyroglossal duct cyst. Head Neck. 2014;36(3):456-8. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
23. Roh JL. Removal of thyroglossal duct cyst by a submental approach. World J Surg. 2022;46(6):1431-7. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
24. Simon LM, Magit AE. Impact of incision and drainage of infected thyroglossal duct cyst on recurrence after Sistrunk procedure. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(1):20-4. [Crossref]  [PubMed] 
25. Nusbaum AO, Som PM, Rothschild MA, Shugar JM. Recurrence of a deep neck infection: a clinical indication of an underlying congenital lesion. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999;125(12):1379-82. [Crossref]  [PubMed]