Rare Cause of Snoring in a Child: More Than Just Tonsils and Allergies

Snoring is common in children, often caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy, obesity, or allergic rhinitis. We report a case of a seven-year-old girl with snoring and frequent tossing and turning during sleep. She had no pain, difficulty swallowing, or neck swelling. Examination revealed a smooth, cystic mass at the base of her tongue. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst (LTGDC) at the foramen caecum, and ultrasound showed a normal thyroid gland. She underwent examination under general anaesthesia, direct laryngoscopy, and marsupialization of the cyst. LTGDC is a rare cause of snoring in children. Diagnosis can be made using flexible laryngoscopy. Intraoral marsupialization is effective, avoiding external scars and reducing complications from open surgeries. Careful patient selection and preoperative imaging are crucial to ensure complete resection and prevent recurrence.