[Thyroid carcinoma in children (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Thyroid carcinoma in children frequently involves regional lymph node metastases.
• The "cold nodule" on scintigraphy is characteristic of infantile thyroid cancer.
• Papillary carcinoma is the most common histologic type, associated with a favorable prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the presentation, treatment, and outcomes of thyroid carcinoma in children.
• To highlight the effectiveness of surgical and adjuvant therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of 25 pediatric cases of thyroid carcinoma.
• Surgical management including thyroid lobectomy, subtotal resection, and selective neck dissection.
• Postoperative management involving radioiodine treatment and TSH-suppressive hormone therapy.

Main Results:

• High survival rate exceeding 90% in the studied cohort.
• Effective detection of remnant thyroid tissue using postoperative scintigraphy.
• Successful management of regional lymph node metastases.

Conclusions:

• Radical surgical resection combined with appropriate adjuvant therapy offers excellent outcomes for pediatric thyroid cancer.
• Multidisciplinary management, including surgery, radioiodine, and hormone suppression, is crucial.
• Early detection and treatment are associated with high survival rates in childhood thyroid carcinoma.