ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study determined the clinicopathologic characteristics in young patients with thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 39 patients who were <20 years of age when diagnosed between January 1985 and December 2008. RESULTS: The mean age was 17.28 years (range, 4~20 years). There were 33 females and 6 males, with a mean follow-up period of 110 months (range, 1~263 months). The initial surgery consisted of total thyroidectomy in 29 patients (74%), and lobectomy and isthmectomy in 10 patients (25%). The mean size of the tumors was 2.56 cm (range 0.4~7 cm), and 31 (79%) of 39 patients had perithyroidal tissue invasion. Papillary and follicular carcinoma was reported in 31 (79%) and 6 patients (15%), respectively. Three patients had a recurrence and no patients had progression of metastasis at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Further collaborative studies are needed to refine the surgical approach, particularly the extent of lymph-node dissection, radioactive iodine dosing, and clinical approach.