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. 2017 May;18(5):430-436.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1600308.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents: a retrospective analysis of 83 patients

Xiao-Chun Mao  1 , Wen-Qiao Yu  2 , Jin-Biao Shang  1 , Ke-Jing Wang  1
Affiliations

Clinical characteristics and treatment of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents: a retrospective analysis of 83 patients

Xiao-Chun Mao et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2017 May.

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 83 cases of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents from January 1990 to December 2010. We compared extra-thyroid extension, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and prognosis between pediatric patients ≤12 years of age (27 cases) and those >12 years of age (56 cases). All the patients agreed to undergo thyroidectomy and endocrine therapy, and the consent was obtained from parents or guardians.

Results: Histopathology included papillary carcinoma in 67 cases, papillary carcinoma with partial follicular growth pattern in 1 case, papillary carcinoma with squamous metaplasia in 4 cases, follicular carcinoma in 7 cases, medullary carcinoma in 3 cases, and poorly differentiated carcinoma in 1 case. The total lymph node metastasis rate was 78.31%. Patients ≤12 years of age showed a higher rate of lymph node metastasis than the older group (92.59% vs. 71.43%, P=0.028). The incidence rate in females in the older group was higher than that in the younger group (80.36% vs. 59.26%, P=0.041). There were no significant differences in extra-thyroid extension, distant metastasis, survival rate, or recurrent disease between the two groups.

Conclusions: The lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer is higher in patients ≤12 years of age than in those >12 years of age; the incidence rate is higher in females than in males. Childhood thyroid cancer has a good prognosis, surgery being the most effective treatment. Choosing a reasonable surgery method and comprehensive postoperative treatment can achieve a cure and satisfactory survival rate.

Keywords: Children and adolescents; Thyroid cancer; Clinical characteristics; Surgical treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethics guidelines: Xiao-chun MAO, Wen-qiao YU, Jin-biao SHANG, and Ke-jing WANG declare that they have no conflict of interest.

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008 (5). The authors followed up with patients by telephone or letter, and the parents or guardians were surveyed if the patients were still minors at that time.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of location and invasion of thyroid cancer between the two groups of children All data are expressed as percent (%)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mortality and recurrent disease of the two groups of children 5 years after initial therapy All data are expressed as percent (%)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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