Thyroid cancer among children and adolescents Clinical and pathological features of 36 patients with thyroid cancer under 19 years of age were studied: at histological examination 55.5% (20 patients) had papillary carcinoma and 44.5% (16 patients) the follicular type of neoplasm. No cases of undifferentiated and medullary cancers were detected. Twenty two (61%) cases had single nodule goiters, while in 14 (39%) patients these were multinodular. Nine cases of early metastases to regional lymphatic tissues and 4 of distant metastases were seen. All patients underwent surgical treatment and were given replacement therapy with thyroid hormones. Additionally nineteen patients were treated postoperatively with I* 31. There were 4 cases of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, one of inferior laryngeal nerve lesion and one operating room death. Three regional recurrences of thyroid carcinoma were seen. Mean length of follow up was 15.4 (range 1 to 40) years and included all cases: there was only one death attributable to thyroid cancer. The prognosis and evolution of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents looks rather benign even in the presence of regional or long distance metastases.