Thyroid nodules in children and adolescents

Abstract

Purpose of review: Compared with adults, there is a two-fold to three-fold increased risk of malignancy for a pediatric patient undergoing evaluation of a thyroid nodule. In 2015, the American Thyroid Association published guidelines on the evaluation and management of pediatric patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. The goal of this clinical update is to review recent additions to the literature and propose opportunities how to best incorporate these findings into clinical practice.

Recent findings: Recent additions to the literature include assessment of ultrasound-based scoring systems to improve selection of patients for fine needle aspiration, defining the pediatric-specific risk of malignancy within The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, and broadening our knowledge of the oncogene landscape that supports incorporation of adjunct oncogene testing to rule-in malignancy of nodules with indeterminate cytology.

Summary: There have been significant additions to the literature on the evaluation and management of children and adolescents with thyroid nodules since publication of the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines. Incorporating these changes into clinical care, within the setting of multidisciplinary, pediatric-specific, regional centers, will maximize ongoing efforts to improve the care of children and adolescents with thyroid nodules.