[Pathology of thyroid diseases in children]

In the present survey the pathohistologic substrate of the major thyroid diseases (functional disturbances, goiters, inflammations, tumors) occurring in childhood is described. In this context the functional morphology (correlation of structure and function) and the immunohistology of the thyroid is reported in detail. Finally, it is discussed under which conditions histologic studies of the thyroid are meaningful for the diagnosis.