Cancer of the thyroid in children and adolescents

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is a rare but intriguing malignancy when it occurs in childhood and adolescence. In this retrospective study 58 young patients with thyroid cancer treated at the Rabin Medical Centre are presented. We found that thyroid carcinoma in children presented in a more advanced stage than in adults, and the incidence of regional metastases at the time of presentation is higher. Nevertheless, the biological behaviour of the tumour is more benign. We believe that near-total thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice in this age group for disease limited to the gland, and total thyroidectomy with perithyroidal neck dissection should be performed in patients with nodal disease. For follow-up, we recommend physical examination with measurement of thyroglobulin and TSH levels, ultrasound examination of the neck and chest radiography.

Childhood Thyroid Cancer: Comparison of Japan and Belarus.

“…In Marshallese, exposed to a mixture of radioiodines and gamma radiation, thyroid malignancies were detected 10-21 years after the nuclear explosion [18]. Various studies of childhood thyroid cancers after exposure of the head and neck to external irradiation demonstrate a latent interval of 3.5-18 years, with the average time between X-ray therapy and tumor development varying from 6.3 to 9.6 years [19][20][21][22][23]. The National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurement recommends using a minimum induction period of 5 years in the calculation of risk of radiation-induced thyroid cancer [24].…”

Childhood minimally invasive follicular carcinoma: Clinical features and immunohistochemistry analysis

“…Post‐operative hormone suppression with L‐T4 is equivalent for survival rates. Hormonal manipulation at TSH suppression can inhibit normal and neoplastic proliferation, thus preventing cancer progression and relapse 13,46 . In our study, one case was well after 4 years of lobectomy alone.…”

“…It accounts for about 5–15% cases of thyroid cancer 4–6 . Moreover, a smaller proportion of FC in thyroid cancer was noted in children than that in adult, and it accounts for about 0.3–1.3% of all paediatric malignancies 12,13 . Hence, the subtype of childhood FC, MIFC, is an extremely rare event in children.…”

“…[4][5][6] Moreover, a smaller proportion of FC in thyroid cancer was noted in children than that in adult, and it accounts for about 0.3-1.3% of all paediatric malignancies. 12,13 Hence, the subtype of childhood FC, MIFC, is an extremely rare event in children. In our study, the thyroid carcinoma accounted for about 2.16% of the paediatric malignant solid tumour, and MIFC accounted for 22.22% (2/9) of the thyroid carcinoma.…”

“…In our study, the thyroid carcinoma accounted for about 2.16% of the paediatric malignant solid tumour, and MIFC accounted for 22.22% (2/9) of the thyroid carcinoma. Although some paediatric cases diagnosed as FC, including MIFC, were reported, 2,5,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] no further information to distinguish the subtype or to compare with adults' MIFC was provided. Herein, we reported two cases of this rare disease with detailed information.…”