Thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: presentation, clinical course, and outcome of therapy in 23 children and adolescents in Northern Greece.

OBJECTIVE To define clinical presentation, surgical complications, follow-up characteristics, and survival of 23 children and adolescents with thyroid carcinoma. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data of 23 children and adolescents with thyroid carcinoma cared for in the Theagenion Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki. RESULTS At the time of diagnosis cervical lymph node metastases were present in 18 (78.2%), mediastinal in 2 (8.69%), and pulmonary in 3 patients (13%). Total thyroidectomy was performed in 21 patients, with lymph node dissection in 18 and subtotal thyroidectomy in 2. No significant post-operative complications were observed. Histological examination revealed differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Tumor was multifocal in 11 (47.8%) and bilateral in 7 subjects (63.6%). Thyroid capsule invasion, vascular invasion, soft tissue involvement, and parathyroid gland invasion was observed in 12 out of 23 patients (52.1%). All patients received thyroxine suppressive therapy and 21 of them additional therapy with radioactive iodine (131I). During follow-up (5.5 years), 6 out of the 23 patients presented new metastases in the cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. At last follow-up, 11 patients (47.8%) had residual disease but all were alive. CONCLUSIONS Thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents can be quite aggressive. When a young patient presents thyroid nodule or multinodular goiter or palpable lymph nodes, the existence of thyroid carcinoma must be seriously considered.