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

In about 50% the thyroid carcinoma in childhood presents regional lymphnode metastases as leading symptom. The "cold nodule" is the typical scintigrafic equivalent of thyroid cancer in infants. Papillary carcinoma is the predominating histologic type (80%) with a good prognosis. Radical removal of the thyroid lobe with the primary lesion and subtotal resection of the opposite lobe, combined with selective neck dissection if necessary seems to improve the results. Scintigrafic control postoperatively detects malignant remnant tissue for 131-iodine-treatment, finally TSH-suppressive hormone administration is followed. In our own cases the survical rate in 25 children was at least more than 90%.