THYROID NODULES IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

Thyroid nodules are uncommon in the paediatric age group. One hundred and twenty-two children and adolescents underwent thyroidectomy for nodular thyroid disease in the Endocrine Surgical Unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital over a 37 year period. In the adolescent age group (13–18 years) 99 thyroidectomies were performed and the pattern of thyroid disease was similar to that seen in adults. In the prepubertal age group (0–12 years), the major difference was the high incidence of thyroid malignancy, especially in males. Of 23 prepubertal children undergoing thyroidectomy for nodular disease, malignancy was found in 38% of boys and 13% of girls. Multicentric papillary cancer (66%) and cervical lymph node metastases (80%) were very common, despite which the long-term survival was excellent.