Pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma: Trends in practice and outcomes over 40 years at a single tertiary care institution

Abstract

This study aims to analyze changes in characteristics, practice and outcomes of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) at our tertiary care institution. Patients <21 years of age diagnosed between 1973 and 2013 were identified. Clinicopathological data, treatment and outcomes were obtained by a retrospective review. Thirteen males and 68 females were divided into Group A (n=35, diagnosed before July 1993) and Group B (n=46, diagnosed after July 1993). Group B was more likely to undergo neck ultrasound (US) (70% vs. 23%, p<0.0001) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy (80% vs. 26%, p<0.0001). Patients in Group B more often underwent total thyroidectomy as a definitive surgical treatment (87% vs. 69%, p=0.04). There was no difference in radioactive iodine use. Recurrence-free survival was similar. Increased use of US and FNA has affected initial surgical management in the latter part of the study, possibly due to extension of adult DTC guidelines. The effects of the new pediatric DTC guidelines need further study.