Thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents.

Forty patients aged 20 years or younger at the time of the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma were followed between 10 and 35 years (mean, 22 years). All patients had had surgery, either a total thyroidectomy or a resection. Sixteen patients received additional radiotherapy. One patient died during surgery. Two patients died of metastatic tumor growth, 5 and 14 years after the primary diagnosis, respectively. Six further patients had recurrences (1-7.5 years after first treatment) and received further treatment. At the end of the study 37 patients were alive without signs of recurrence.