ABSTRACT
Objective To study the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma in children. Method The clinical data of 25 children with thyroid carcinoma undergoing operative treatment from 1980 to 2001 were analyzed retrospectively. Results 25 children all underwent surgical treatment .Of them,17 were papillary carcinomas,3 papillary carcinomas with follicular elements,3 follicular carcinomas,1 medullary carcinoma and 1 fibrosarcoma. 21 children were followed up periodically from 4 months to 18 years (average time 6years). There were two deaths in the followed-up period,1 died of pulmonary insufficiency in extensive pulmonary and cervical lymph nodes metastases two years after the operation; 1 died of fibrosarcoma recurrence. The other children were all alive in good condition. Conclusions Most of the thyroid carcinoma in children are papillary carcinomas, and the prognosis is usually excellent. Operation is the main therapeutic method. A proper surgical procedure is major approach in treatment. Re-operation is also necessary, and might get a long-term survival even if the patient has recurrent thyroid carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastases.