Thyroid Cancer in the Pediatric Age in Sicily: Influence of the Volcanic Environment.
Pediatric thyroid cancer (TC) is rare but its incidence is increasing. We analyzed incidence and characteristics of pediatric TC in Sicily and comparatively evaluated data from the volcanic and non-volcanic areas.



All incident pediatric (0-19 years) TCs in Sicily between 2002-2009 were analyzed for the area of residence and compared to data for adults.



A total of 54 differentiated TCs (DTC) and nine medullary TCs were diagnosed in Sicily in children between 2002-2009. DTC age standardized rate for the world population (ASRw) was 0.8/105in females and 0.2/105in males, with a higher incidence in the volcanic area (ASRw=1.4/105in females, 0.5/105in males) vs. the rest of Sicily (ASRw=0.6/105in females, 0.1/105in males). Pediatric TCs were larger in size and more frequently with extrathyroid extension and lymph-node involvement in comparison to TCs in adults.



In the volcanic environment of Sicily, TC incidence is markedly increased in children, suggesting a short-term effect of unidentified carcinogens of volcanic origin.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Marco
M
Russo
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Pasqualino
P
Malandrino
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Mariacarla
M
Moleti
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Antonio
A
D'Angelo
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Martina
M
Tavarelli
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Giulia
G
Sapuppo
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Fiorenza
F
Giani
Endocrinology, Di.Bi.M.I.S University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Pierina
P
Richiusa
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Sebastiano
S
Squatrito
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy vigneri@unict.it.|Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Catania, Italy.
Riccardo
R
Vigneri
Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Gabriella
G
Pellegriti
D000293:Adolescent; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012802:Sicily; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions; D055815:Young Adult
Pediatric thyroid cancer; thyroid cancer and volcanic environment; thyroid cancer epidemiology