Diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in children / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinicopathologic characteristics,diagnosis and therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer in children and adolescents.Methods The files of 68 children with differentiated thyroid cancer in our hospital from 1989-2002 were retrospectively reviewed.Results All patients received operationand postoperative thyroxin therapy.Seventeen patients underwent near-total or total thyroidectomy and 51 patients underwent ipsilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.Central compartment,unilateral and bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy was performed in 24,36,and 8 patients respectively.The patients in this group were all aliveduring one year to three years follow up(4 patients were lost to followup contact after three years).Conclusions The optimal treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in pediatric patients continues to be debated.The leading treatment is surgical.Selection of proper surgical procedure and comprehensive postoperativetherapy are important for good outcome.Endocrine therapy was given to all of the patients postoperatively.