[Childhood and adolescent thyroid carcinoma: a clinical analysis of 86 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinico-pathologic characteristics, treatment and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma in childhood and adolescents.


METHODS
From 1984 to 1997, 86 cases with thyroid carcinoma in childhood and adolescent treated were summarized.


RESULTS
All cases underwent operation with adjuvant therapy. Pathologically, papillary carcinoma was diagnosed in 73 (84.9%), follicular carcinoma in 6 (7%), papillary-follicular carcinoma in 4 (4.7%) and medullary carcinoma in 3 (3.5%). Cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 59 cases (68.6%), 16 of which with both thyroid carcinoma and bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis (27.1%). Lung metastasis was found in 11 cases. Recurrence occurred in 6 cases after operation. Compared with the thyroid carcinoma in adult patients, cervical lymph node metastasis, bilateral involvement of the thyroid gland with bilateral cervical nodes and lung metastasis rate were more commonly seen in childhood and adolescence. All but 2 patients had been followed up for more than 5 years, 41 patients for more than 10 years. The 5-year and 10-year survival rate was 95.3% (82/86) and 87.8% (36/41), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical manifestations of childhood and adolescent thyroid cancer are generally not pathognostic which may lead to misdiagnosis. Surgery is the main method in the comprehensive treatment with a good prognosis. The therapy with (131)I after operation was beneficial for some patients accompanied with lung metastasis.
Jin
Guo-ping
GP
Department of Head and Neck, Henan Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Meng
Zhao-zhong
ZZ
Luo
Rui-hua
RH
Yang
Hui
H
Yu
Shu-guan
SG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery