[Thyroid tumors in childhood]

Cir Pediatr. 1999 Apr;12(2):65-70.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The thyroid pathology in the paediatric population represents 5% of the total and 1.2% only thyroid pathology correspond to the infantile solitary thyroid nodules. Most of them are asymptomatic and as only sign an increase of volume is observed in the neck. Always we have to ask about the family history because the possibility of medullary carcinoma related with multiple endocrine neoplasias should be investigated (a patient of our series). The thyroid tumor represents 0.5% of all the tumors and of these 10% is in younger than 21 years old. We present 13 patients with thyroid pathology that have required surgical treatment, since 1983 to 1997. Five papillary carcinomas (ages: 7 to 14 years old) that started with a cervical nodule, normal thyroid function and a case of medullary carcinoma, in a multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II 2A). In the 5 cases of carcinoma papillary we were carried out total thyroidectomy and later on, postoperative ablative dose of 131I was administered. In the case of the girl with medullary carcinoma was carried out a total tumorectomy and lymph node excision. Finally, seven patients with nodule thyroid were thyroid benign tumors (benign 6 adenomas and 1 cyst colloid, ages: 8 to 15 years old). In all of them we were carried out total surgical excision of the thyroid nodules. Our protocol of study of nodule thyroid includes: 1) thyroid gammagraphy to know the intensity of reception of the isotope; 2) cervical ultrasound; and 3) biopsy or cytopathology of fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland in children that it dissuades to base the surgical strategy on this test.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenoma / surgery*
  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / surgery*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / surgery*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Ultrasonography