Objective Although thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs) are relatively common, malignancies within these lesions are infrequent. As a result, there are no large-scale series describing clinical characteristics. Our objectives were to perform a systematic review of the literature evaluating patient demographics, pathology, management, and prognosis of these patients. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, Cochrane reviews, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles. Articles meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed for data detailing epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes. Review Methods Inclusion criteria included English-language articles with original reports on human subjects. Two investigators independently reviewed all articles for the data collected, including epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes. Results Ninety-eight articles comprising 164 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age at presentation was 39.5 years (9-83 years); 68.3% of patients were female. In total, 73.3% of cases were found on final pathologic analysis. The most common pathology was papillary cancer (92.1%). Of the patients, 98.9% underwent a Sistrunk procedure and 61.0% underwent total thyroidectomy. There was a 4.3% recurrence rate with a mean time to recurrence of 42.1 months from initial treatment. One patient died of TGDC carcinoma, while all other patients were disease free at the time of last follow-up (mean follow-up was 46.1 months). Conclusion TGDC carcinoma is typically diagnosed on final pathology. While management encompasses a Sistrunk procedure, further consideration should be given to thyroidectomy among patients ≥45 years of age and individuals with aggressive disease. TGDC carcinoma harbors an exceedingly low rate of mortality.

The changes in pulmonary compliance have been studied under conditions of total body hypothermia. Five groups of sheep were used; two groups were controls-one for the effects of anaesthesia and the other for normothermic biventricular bypass. The third group was cooled using a femoro-femoral arterio-venous shunt to 20°-23°C. The fourth group was cooled to 15°C. and rewarmed using the Drew technique. The excised lungs of the remaining sheep were studied at 370 and 15°C. (fifth group). The controls showed little change in compliance. The cooled animals showed a decrease in compliance. In the group subjected to hypothermia by the Drew technique, the rewarming phase initially brought a return towards normal compliance. As the temperature rose to 24°-30°C. the improvement in compliance ceased and thereafter compliance decreased for two hours after rewarming. Histologically the lungs were normal. There was no compliance change caused by cooling the excised lungs.

Unilateral pulmonary oedema is a rare complication in the routine management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Previous reports have emphasized excessive negative intrapleural pressure, rapid re-expansion of the lung and bronchial obstruction as major factors in the pathogenesis. We have encountered four cases, and at least one of these factors have been absent in each case. Review of the literature, and our own experience suggests that the major factor is chronic and total lung collapse resulting in hypoxia and increased alveolar-capillary membrane permeability. Other factors which may be contributory are discussed.