Clinical features of thyroid cancer in paediatric age. Experience of a tertiary centre in the 2000–2020 period

摘要

Abstract Purpose To describe the clinical features of a paediatric cohort affected by differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) followed in a tertiary Department of Paediatric Endocrinology.Methods Clinical data of 41 patients affected by DTC in the 2000–2020 period were reviewed.Results The main risk factor was autoimmune thyroiditis (39%). Cytological categories were TIR3b in 39%, TIR4 in 9.8%, TIR5 in 51.2%. After total thyroidectomy, radioiodine treatment was performed in 38 subjects (92.7%). ATA low-risk category was assigned in 11 (30.5%), intermediate-risk category in 15 (41.7%), and high-risk category in 10 patients (27.8%). Age at diagnosis was 15.1?±?0.92 years in low-risk category, 14.7?±?0.59 in intermediate-risk category, 11.7?±?0.89 years in high-risk category (p?=?0.01). TIR3b was manly observed in low-risk class (63.6%), while TIR5 was mainly reported in intermediate and high-risk class (60 and 80% respectively) (p?=?0.04). Post-surgery stimulated thyroglobulin was increased in high-risk class (407.8?±?307.1?ng/ml) [p?=?0.04]. Tumour size was larger in high-risk category (42.6?±?2.6?mm), than in low and intermediate-risk categories (19.4?±?3.5?mm and 28.5?±?3.9?mm, respectively) (p?=?0.008). Patients in intermediate and high-risk categories displayed more tumour multifocality (60 and 90% respectively) (p?