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Recurrence and survival for patients with thyroid carcinoma in the pediatric age group in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: retrospective analysis of a multicentre cohort

  • Najla Ben Ghashir EMAIL logo , Abdulghani Elomami , Reham Al Masoud , Vito Carlo Alberto Caponio ORCID logo and Eiman Al Seddeeqi
Published/Copyright: November 29, 2023
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
From the journal Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Volume 37 Issue 1

Abstract

Objectives

Pediatric thyroid cancer represents 2.3 % of thyroid cancers, and its long-term outcome data are sparse. There have not been studies in the UAE delineating its epidemiology, clinical and histological characteristics, and follow-up outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical–pathological behavior, recurrence and survival rates in pediatrics with all types of thyroid cancer in the UAE.

Methods

Multicentre retrospective chart review analysis of pediatric patients with thyroid carcinoma from January 2010 to December 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Results

Thirty-four patients were included, 85 % being females. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was the commonest type of thyroid cancer (88 %) vs. follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (11.8 %). Almost half of our patients had a multifocal disease, 26 % had lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and 21 % had extrathyroidal extension (ETE). There were no mortalities during follow-up. 85 % of patients exhibited complete remission, while 15 % of patients showed evidence of progressive residual or recurrent disease. One patient had metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs.

Conclusions

There were similar trends of incidence, sex prevalence, and histopathological patterns as the ones observed internationally. Potential risk factors in our population include a family history of thyroid cancer and obesity. The lower rate of ETE, LVI, metastasis, and recurrence indicates a possibly less aggressive disease.

Keywords: pediatric thyroid cancer; pediatric endocrinology; pediatric oncology; Abu Dhabi
Corresponding author: Najla Ben Ghashir, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Phone: +971 (0) 2 314 5609, Mobile: +971 (0) 565412822, E-mail:

  1. Research ethics: The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee Board (reference number MF2058-2021-779).

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  5. Research funding: None declared.

  6. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

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Received: 2023-03-22
Accepted: 2023-10-20
Published Online: 2023-11-29
Published in Print: 2024-01-29

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2023-0268
Keywords for this article
pediatric thyroid cancer; pediatric endocrinology; pediatric oncology; Abu Dhabi

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Mini Review
  3. Outcomes and experiences of adults with congenital hypogonadism can inform improvements in the management of delayed puberty
  4. Original Articles
  5. Very elevated serum copeptin concentrations occur in a subset of healthy children in the minutes after phlebotomy
  6. Efficacy and safety of leuprorelin 3-month depot (11.25 mg) for idiopathic central precocious puberty treatment of Chinese girls: a single-center retrospective study
  7. MicroRNA-29a and microRNA-122 expressions and other inflammatory markers among obese children with diabetes
  8. Health related quality of life is associated with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in overweight children
  9. Experience with carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency: diagnostic challenges in the myopathic form
  10. Gender-related differences in cardiometabolic risk factors and oxidative stress among prepubertal children with obesity
  11. Recurrence and survival for patients with thyroid carcinoma in the pediatric age group in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: retrospective analysis of a multicentre cohort
  12. Longitudinal assessment of auxological parameters, adult height outcome and its determinants in leuprolide-treated Indian girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty
  13. Ambulatory blood pressure monitorisation in children with recombinant growth hormone treatment
  14. Letrozole combined with rhGH treatment increases the adult height of short pubertal boys
  15. Case Reports
  16. Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in Sturge–Weber syndrome: case report and review of the literature
  17. Intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity in siblings with pseudohypoparathyroidism 1B due to maternal STX16 deletion
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