Comparison of differentiated thyroid cancer in children and adolescents (≤20 years) with young adults

Abstract

Paediatric DTC is distinct from DTC in the young adults (age >20 to <45 years). It is characterized by a higher rate of extrathyroidal extension, lymph node and distant metastases and a higher risk of persistent/recurrent DTC.

Differentiated thyroid cancer in children: Heterogeneity of predictive risk factors

“…In the present study, 31.5% of paediatric patients with DTC had persistent/recurrent disease during follow‐up, which is a percentage similar to that of other reports . However, at the last evaluation, only 12.9% of patients showed biochemical or structural disease, emphasizing the good response to treatments in these patients.…”

“…23 In our series, a more aggressive approach was used In the present study, 31.5% of paediatric patients with DTC had persistent/recurrent disease during follow-up, which is a percentage similar to that of other reports. [24][25][26] However, at the last evaluation, only 12.9% of patients showed biochemical or structural disease, emphasizing the good response to treatments in these patients. On the other hand, life expectancy and possible complications of treatments should be considered due to the young age of these patients.…”

Radioactive iodine ablation may not decrease the risk of recurrence in intermediate-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…Young age and BRAF positivity were also significantly associated with an increased likelihood of receiving RAI ablation. Increased use of RAI ablation in the young age group can be explained by the associations between young age and aggressive features of PTC (Bonnet et al 2009, Roh et al 2011, Ito et al 2014, Alzahrani et al 2015 Likewise, the relationship between BRAF mutation with RAI ablation usage can be explained by its strong association with aggressive features of PTC (Xing et al 2009). Interestingly, RAI ablation was administered less often in PTC patients with CLT.…”

Are we really at the dawn of understanding sporadic pediatric thyroid carcinoma?

“…Moreover, pediatric cases are more likely to present a more advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis, often a more aggressive local disease and higher rates of distant metastases (Zimmerman et al 1988, Chow et al 2004, Kumagai et al 2004, Jarzab et al 2005, Alzahrani et al 2015. Neck lymph node metastasis at diagnosis was reported in nearly 90% of pediatric cases, while they were detected in 35% of adults (Zimmerman et al 1988).…”