title: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma in early adulthood patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper reviews the clinico-pathologic features and outcomes of differentiated thyroid -carcinoma in early adulthood patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  From january 2000 to december 2012, 71 patients aged between 20 and 44 years who underwent thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma were included. The following parameters were recorded : age, gender, pre-operative symptoms and diagnosis, thyroid hormonal status, substernal extension, operative details, preoperative and postoperative calcium and phosphorous values, perioperative complications, length of hospital stay, final histology, survival and disease progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 59 females (83%) and 12 males with a median age of 29 years (20-44 years). None had a previous neck irradiation. Total thyroidectomy was performed on 65 patients (92%). There were 66 papillary (93%) and 5 follicular carcinomas. Extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node involvement were present in 44% and 37% of cases respectively. Transient hypocalcemia and dysphonia occurred in 15% and 4 % of cases respectively. Permanent hypocalcemia and vocal cord paralysis occurred in 1% and 0% of cases respectively. Adjuvant radioactive I(131) therapy was given to 50 patients. There were 7 cases (10%) of lymph node recurrences but no disease-related deaths. The only statistical differences between this group and all ages group were the extracapsular invasion (44% vs 20% p = 0,0014) and lymph node metastasis (37% vs 18% p = 0,0091).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differentiated thyroid carcinoma has a good prognosis in early adulthood patients. Although death from this condition is rare, recurrence is frequent and long term follow up is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghorra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abadjian
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sidaoui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abboud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult