Thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: a retrospective review.
OBJECTIVE
To describe clinical presentation, preoperative study, intervention, histology, surgical complications and follow-up characteristics, and survival in patients with thyroid carcinoma (TC) with less than 18 years at presentation.


METHODS
retrospective analysis of clinical data of all children and adolescents followed in S. João Hospital from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2010 with histologic diagnosis of TC.


RESULTS
Twenty-three patients were identified, 19 girls, and 4 boys. Median age at presentation was 17.0 years. Annual incidence was 2.3 cases/year. The main presenting symptom was a solitary thyroid nodule (60.8%). Three (13%) patients had risk factors for TC, 2 of the 3 had previous cervical irradiation. The other was a smoker. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 16 (69.6%), and 10 patients underwent a second surgical procedure. Four (17.4%) patients had postoperative complications. Histologic examination revealed differentiated TC in all, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 86.9%, follicular carcinoma in the remaining. All patients received thyroxine suppressive therapy and 20 underwent therapeutic radioactive iodine (131I). During follow-up (7.1 years), 7 out of the 23 patients presented new metastases and needed new treatment. All patients are currently alive.


CONCLUSIONS
TC is a reality in pediatric population, thyroid routine examination should take part in all clinical examination in children and adolescents.
Unidade de Endocrinologia Pediátrica, Serviço Pediatria, Hospital São João, Porto, Portugal. afneiva@gmail.com
Filipa
F
Neiva
Joana
J
Mesquita
Susana
S
Paco Lima
Maria João
MJ
Matos
Carla
C
Costa
Cintia
C
Castro-Correia
Manuel
M
Fontoura
Sofia
S
Martins
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery