[Cancer of the thyroid in children. 14 cases]

Fourteen cases of thyroid gland carcinoma in children (mean age: 10 years) were reviewed. Scintigraphy showed a cold nodule in 10 and diffuse heterogeneous uptake indicating undifferentiated carcinoma in 3. The clinical risk of these tumours resides in alterations of the thyroid gland and in lymph node involvement. The favourable long-term prognosis in children justifies a conservative surgical treatment. Pulmonary metastases respond well to radioactive iodine. TSH secretion must be completely suppressed by continuous hormonal treatment. Anticancerous irradiation is fraught with potential dangers.