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Background: The cystic hygroma is a benign lymphatic malformation, a rare but potentially serious in its character and its evolutionary trend dissecans. The head and neck region constitutes the favorite seat (75%). If the diagnosis is usually easy, the therapeutic management remains controversial., Aim: To analyze clinical and paraclinical characteristics of cystic hygroma and to discuss the various therapeutic methods., Methods: We report a retrospective study about 25 cases of head and neck cystic hygroma collected during a period of 11 years (1998- 2008) in the ENT department of the hospital The Rabta Tunis., Results: The average age of our patients was 18 years and 5 months. All patients consulted for a neck mass. It was localized in the submandibular region in 7 cases, 3 cases in parotid region, jugulocarotid artery in 3 cases and affecting the posterior triangle in 12 cases. Cervical ultrasound was performed in 22 cases (88%) evoking the diagnosis of cystic hygroma in 16 cases (72%). CT was performed in 10 cases finding hypodense aspect in 8 cases. MRI was carried out in 9 cases. It showed the aspect hyperintense T2, hypointense T1 in 7 cases. Surgical excision was performed in 22 cases and sclerotherapy in 3 patients. During the evolution, a recurrence was observed for each treatment modality., Conclusion: Surgery is treatment of choice of cystic hygroma. Sclerotherapy may be indicated as an alternative to surgery in localized and diffuse macrocystic forms.

Background: The plunging goiter consists in a goiter whose lower limit is not palpable in surgical position., Aim: To study the epidemiologic characteristics, the circumstances of discovery, the clinical signs, and the management of this disease., Methods: A retrospective study about 43 cases of plunging goiters operated during a period of 14 years in the ENT department of the hospital The Rabta Tunis., Results: The average age of our patients was 59.3 years. On physical examination, goiter was palpable in 41 patients (95.3%). The plunging character of the goiter was noted, at echography, in 26 patients. A cervico-thoracic scanner was performed in 41 patients (95.3%). It helped to confirm the plunging goiter in all patients. These goiters were most frequently pre vascular (73.2%) compared to the innomined venous trunk. The lower limits of the intrathoracic extensions were on the level of the superior vena cava in 4 cases (9.7%), on the level of the left brachio-cephalic venous trunk in 16 cases (39%) and on the level of the aortic arch in 15 cases (36,5%). The cervical incision was sufficient in 39 cases (97.5%) and we used a combined sternotomy in one patient (2.5%)., Conclusion: The plunging goiter is a thyroid tumour cervical originally descended, then developed, in the mediastinum. A good clinical examination and paraclinical can reach a definite diagnosis and to achieve better surgical.