Thyroid cancer in children and adolescents: clinical characteristics and treatment strategies        LIN Le-min， CHEN Yang， DAI Wen-jie. Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the First Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin150001, China
Corresponding author：LIN Le-min，E-mail：llm68192003@yahoo.com
Abstract    Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is rare in children and adolescents. It has differences with adult DTC. DTC in children and adolescents usually presents as a solitary nodule, frequently present with lymph-node involvement and metastases at diagnosis than adults. Despite the presence of more extensive disease, long-term follow-up data show the favorable prognosis and longer overall survival. Total or near-total thyroidectomy is currently the standard of practice for papillary and follicular carcinomas in children and adolescents. Central compartment node removal at the time of initial surgery should be undertaken if nodes are detected by palpation or ultrasonography. Modified radical neck dissections should be performed in children with biopsy-proven lateral neck disease, and radical neck dissections should be avoided. Radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation with 131I is a mainstay of adjunctive DTC therapy for children and adolescents. It is standard practice to treat DTC patients in children and adolescents with levothyroxine postoperatively. The optimal degree of TSH suppression is debated.