Thyroid nodules in childhood and adolescence

Aust N Z J Surg. 1994 Oct;64(10):676-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1994.tb02055.x.

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are uncommon in the paediatric age group. One hundred and twenty-two children and adolescents underwent thyroidectomy for nodular thyroid disease in the Endocrine Surgical Unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital over a 37 year period. In the adolescent age group (13-18 years) 99 thyroidectomies were performed and the pattern of thyroid disease was similar to that seen in adults. In the prepubertal are group (0-12 years), the major difference was the high incidence of thyroid malignancy, especially in males. Of 23 prepubertal children undergoing thyroidectomy for nodular disease, malignancy was found in 38% of boys and 13% of girls. Multicentric papillary cancer (66%) and cervical lymph node metastases (80%) were very common, despite which the long-term survival was excellent.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Neck Dissection
  • Sex Distribution
  • Survival Rate
  • Thyroid Nodule / epidemiology*
  • Thyroid Nodule / etiology
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology
  • Thyroid Nodule / surgery*
  • Thyroidectomy* / methods
  • Thyroidectomy* / statistics & numerical data