[Differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: clinical characteristics and treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment and prognosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in adolescents.


METHODS
The data of 46 patients with DTC under the age of 18 years were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty patients were misdiagnosed in this group (43.5%). All patients received operation, including 39 unilateral neck dissection and 6 bilateral neck dissection, followed by postoperative thyrotropin suppressive therapy. There were 42 cases of papillary carcinoma (91.3%) and 4 cases of follicular carcinoma (8.7%). Cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 39 cases (84.8%). In the follow-up period of 1 to 25 years (mean 10 years), no death of thyroid carcinoma occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common DTC in adolescents is papillary carcinoma with better prognosis regardless of the higher incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis. The optimal extent of primary thyroidectomy and neck dissection followed by postoperative thyrotropin suppressive therapy in adolescents with DTC may improve the quality of life and decrease the incidence of complications.
Gong
Jian-Ping
JP
Department of General Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China.
Zhang
Ren-Xi
RX
Chen
Huan-Qiu
HQ
Jiang
Qian
Q
Wang
Tai-Hong
TH
Lu
Bao-Cheng
BC
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*