title: Management of thyroid carcinoma in children and young adults.
abstract: Thyroid cancers represent the largest group of pediatric carcinomas. Unlike other cancers of childhood, they have not been prospectively studied; instead adult data has been extrapolated to childhood and adolescent treatment. In this article we review the treatment of both well differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC), as well as medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The approach to both cancers relies on a low threshold of suspicion, and a willingness to biopsy suspicious lesions. Surgery remains the primary method of curing these patients, although radioactive iodine (RAI) may offer some benefit in WDTC for selected patients. For patients with MTC new medications, such as Vandetanib, may offer some adjuvant benefit following surgery. Lastly, suppression of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) may be one of the most beneficial treatments for WDTC.
authors.affiliation: Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA. louis.rapkin@choa.org
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rapkin
authors.forename: Farzana D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Pashankar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007456:Iodine Isotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D010880:Piperidines; D011799:Quinazolines; D013972:Thyrotropin; C452423:vandetanib