Differentiated thyroid cancer in childhood: pathology, diagnosis, therapy

Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2003 Dec:1 Suppl 2:230-5; discussion 235-6.

Abstract

The incidence of thyroid cancer in childhood amounts to approximately 0,5/100.000/year. However, after exposure to ionizing irradiation, the incidence may increase more than 20 fold. In children, lymph node metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer are frequent (more than 50%); distant metastases mainly to the lung are seen in 20-30%. The method of choice for the primary diagnosis of thyroid cancer today is ultrasonography with 7,5 - 10 MHz probes, accompanied by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Differentiated thyroid cancer has to be treated with a multidisciplinary approach comprising total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection, post-operative radioiodine treatment and TSH-suppression by levothyroxine. The long-term results of this treatment approach are generally good with 10-year survival rates of 95% and higher. The treatment of children with disseminated pulmonary metastases however, may be complicated due to the increased risk of the induction of pulmonary fibrosis by radioiodine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use*
  • Neck Dissection
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy / methods*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes