Seminars: controversies in the management of pediatric thyroid malignancy.
Thyroid cancer in children is a rare malignancy with unusual biological behavior. It often presents at advanced stages, yet behaves in a benign manner, when compared to its adult counterpart. Surgeons have debated the risks and benefits of aggressive surgical procedures for over a decade. A consensus treatment plan for childhood thyroid cancer has not been achieved, however radical surgical procedures have, in general, fallen out of favor. The best operative and adjuvant strategy for these children can only be determined when a better understanding of the tumor cell biology and genetics of this cancer is known. This review discusses the current controversies in the management of differentiated childhood thyroid malignancy.
Gingalewski
Cynthia A
CA
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia 20010, USA. cgingale@cnmc.org
Newman
Kurt D
KD
D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009154:Mutation; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret