Case Series of Surgical Treatment in Pediatric Thyroid Carcinoma in a Single Institution.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of thyroid carcinoma (TC) among pediatric and adolescent populations is infrequent, yet its global occurrence is escalating. Insufficient information pertaining to TC in the pediatric populace of Indonesia presents issues in the identification and management of patients with this condition. The objective of this study is to provide a detailed account of a collection of pediatric TC cases that were recorded at a tertiary care center throughout an extended interval of eight years.

PRESENTATION OF CASES: The present study conducted a retrospective data analysis of ten patients who received a diagnosis of TC during the period spanning from 2014 to 2022. The present study focused on analyzing the clinical manifestation, diagnostic measures, treatment modalities, and immediate postoperative consequences of TC. All patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer exhibited the presence of neck lump. Nine patients underwent total thyroidectomy, while one patient underwent isthmolobectomy. The histopathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid cancer in every individual. There were a significant number of patients, up to 50%, who encountered complications after undergoing surgery. Two patients reported the hoarseness of voice, whereas two other patients experienced the signs of hypocalcemia. Only one patient exhibited both these symptoms simultaneously.

DISCUSSION: The implementation of total thyroidectomy as a surgical intervention in pediatric patients poses a notable challenge. Postoperative monitoring for potential complications following surgery for total thyroidectomy is imperative.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides evidence that the utilization of total thyroidectomy in combination with lymph node dissection as indicated in patients with lymph node metastases in pediatric patients with thyroid carcinoma leads to a significant reduction in the probability of recurrence of lymph node enlargement. During the performance of surgical procedures, meticulous observation plays a key role in mitigating the risk of postoperative complications, such as hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, and injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Thus, it is imperative to conduct follow-up procedures for post-surgical interventions among pediatric patients diagnosed with TC.