Abstract
Introduction This study aims to update outcomes and predictors of survival on pediatric thyroid
carcinoma, specifically examining pediatric patients with nonpapillary thyroid carcinoma
who underwent surgical resection.
Methods Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database were searched for pediatric
cases (< 20 years old) of surgically treated nonpapillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed
from 1973 to 2011. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and survival outcomes were
analyzed using standard statistical methods. All follicular, medullary, Hürthle-cell,
and nonencapsulated sclerosing carcinoma types were included.
Results A total of 493 cases were identified. The overall incidence was 0.096/100,000 persons
per year. The mean age at diagnosis was 15 years and highest incidence was found in
whites, females, and patients aged 15 to 19 years. Most patients had localized (60%)
or regional disease (35%) and only 38% received radiation (any type). Subtotal/total
thyroidectomy was the most common procedure performed (83%) and 47% had lymph node
sampling. The most common histologies were follicular (54%) and medullary (28%). Most
tumors were > 2cm in size (63%). Overall 30-year survival was 91% but higher for females
(94%, p = 0.02) and for local disease (92%). Disease-specific survival was highest for those
with no lymph node sampling and negative lymph nodes. On multivariate analysis for
medullary type only stage was an independent prognostic indicator of survival. Gender,
age, tumor size, histology, and disease extent were not associated with an increased
risk of mortality.
Conclusions Incidence of pediatric nonpapillary thyroid cancer is low. Females have a higher
incidence but similar survival to males. Stage is the only independent prognostic
indicator of survival for patients with medullary thyroid cancer.
Keywords
nonpapillary thyroid carcinoma - pediatric - survival - outcome predictors
