Objective: To reveal the clinical characteristics, causes of misdiagnosis, treatment and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma in children.
Methods: Fourteen patients under 14 years of age with thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: According to UICC's clinical and histopathologic classification (1989), there were 12 cases of papillary carcinomas (83.3%), 2 cases of follicular carcinomas (16.7%). All but one case were in stage I. Cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 12 cases (85.7%). Diagnosis was incorrect in 7 cases. All patients were operated, including unilateral neck dissection in 11 and bilateral neck dissection in 2. One patient received palliative subthyroidectomy and postoperative 131I treatment. In the follow-up period of 2 to 13 years (mean 6 years), no patient died.
Conclusion: Thyroid cancer in children are mostly papillary carcinomas with good prognosis, regardless of high frequency of cervical lymph node metastases. Early cases can be picked up if misdiagnosis be avoided.