Opposite Incidence Trends for Differentiated and Medullary Thyroid Cancer in Young Dutch Patients over a 30-Year Time Span

Risk factors for recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: A retrospective cohort study

This study aimed to provide a recent clinical evaluation of the outcome of treatment and the predictors of recurrence for Chinese children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). This is a retrospective cohort study at the Yunnan Cancer Hospital from May 2002 to August 2021. We analyzed several risk factors related to the recurrence of DTC in children and adolescents. The Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier log-rank tests, and Cox regression analysis were used in the statistical analysis. A P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 103 patients were enrolled, including 68 girls (66.0%) and 35 boys (34.0%) with a median age of 18 years (range: 7-20 years). All enrolled patients received standard treatment. Children (≤14years) tended to have multifocality and higher levels of thyroid imaging reporting and data system, higher pN stage, and higher American Thyroid Association (ATA) pediatric risk compared with adolescents (P < .05). The chief complaints and clinical treatment differed between children and adolescents. During a follow-up of 6 to 239 months (average 74.7 months, median 59 months), all patients survived, but recurrence occurred in 22 patients (22.4%). The disease-free survival rates at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years were 91.2%, 78.4%, 77.1%, and 77.1%, respectively. Univariate Cox regression and log-rank tests showed that positive preoperative thyroglobulin level, bilaterality, extrathyroidal extension, high pT/pN/pM stage, and high ATA pediatric risk were the risk factors for DTC recurrence in children and adolescents. Multivariate Cox regression found that extrathyroidal extension and ATA pediatric risk were independent risk factors for the recurrence of DTC in children and adolescents. Additionally, among the 38 cases with cN0 stage, one who had bilateral, and multifocal thyroid nodules experienced recurrence, while the remaining 37 cases with cN0 stage had no recurrence. In conclusion, compared with adolescents, children present with more highly malignant disease and are more prone to metastasis. The significant risk factors associated with the recurrence of DTC in children and adolescents were positive preoperative thyroglobulin level, bilaterality, high pT/pN/pM stage, extrathyroidal extension, and high ATA pediatric risk, with the latter 2 being independent risk factors. The surgical approach for cN0 patients should be personalized taking into account invasive features.

2022 European Thyroid Association Guidelines for the management of pediatric thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid carcinoma

At present, no European recommendations for the management of pediatric thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) exist. Differences in clinical, molecular, and pathological characteristics between pediatric and adult DTC emphasize the need for specific recommendations for the pediatric population. An expert panel was instituted by the executive committee of the European Thyroid Association including an international community of experts from a variety of disciplines including pediatric and adult endocrinology, pathology, endocrine surgery, nuclear medicine, clinical genetics, and oncology. The 2015 American Thyroid Association Pediatric Guideline was used as framework for the present guideline. Areas of discordance were identified, and clinical questions were formulated. The expert panel members discussed the evidence and formulated recommendations based on the latest evidence and expert opinion. Children with a thyroid nodule or DTC require expert care in an experienced center. The present guideline provides guidance for healthcare professionals to make well-considered decisions together with patients and parents regarding diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of pediatric thyroid nodules and DTC.

Detection of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in exhaled breath with an electronic nose

This proof-of-principle study investigates the diagnostic performance of the Aeonose in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid diseases based on volatile organic compound analysis in exhaled breath. All patients with a suspicious thyroid nodule planned for surgery, exhaled in the Aeonose. Definitive diagnosis was provided by histopathological determination after surgical resection. Breath samples were analyzed utilizing artificial neural networking. About 133 participants were included, 48 of whom were diagnosed with well-differentiated thyroid cancer. A sensitivity of 0.73 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.82 were found. The sensitivity and NPV improved to 0.94 and 0.95 respectively after adding clinical variables via multivariate logistic regression analysis. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the Aeonose to discriminate between malignant and benign thyroid disease. With a high NPV, low cost, and non-invasive nature, the Aeonose may be a promising diagnostic tool in the detection of thyroid cancer.

Age-related risk for second breast cancer and gynecological malignant neoplasms after differentiated thyroid cancer

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to investigate the age-related risk of second breast cancer (SBC) and second gynecological malignant neoplasms (SGMNs) in female differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) survivors by utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS

A total number of 55,622 female DTC patients were identified between 1975 and 2016, including 2168 patients who developed SBC and SGMNs. The Fine and Gray model was used to calculate the cumulative incidence and sub-distribution hazards ratios (SHR). Poisson regression analysis was employed to calculate the relative risk (RR) and standardized incidence ratio (SIR). Kaplan-Meier survival and log-rank test analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

The overall 40-year cumulative incidence of SBC and SGMNs was 18.9%. Their incidence in the adolescent and young adults (AYA) group increased slowly in the first 30 years, but then was rapidly elevated in the last decade. It increased gradually in the middle-aged adults group and in the first 25 years in the older adults group, but it scarcely increased thereafter. Both the middle-aged adults (adjusted SHR, 2.09; RR, 1.76) and the older adults (adjusted SHR, 1.32; RR, 1.58) groups had higher risks of developing combined SBC and SGMNs than the AYA group. The risks increased mainly in the early latency period. The three groups also had higher SIRs than the US general population. Besides, the best survival after SBC and SGMNs was observed in the AYA group.

CONCLUSIONS

Age was an independent risk factor for SBC and SGMNs incidences among female DTC survivors.

Increased trend of thyroid cancer in childhood over the last 30 years in EU countries: a call for the pediatric surgeon

Given the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer cases affecting the pediatric population in Europe, an epidemiological analysis of the available data is essential in order to update standards of care and recommend diagnostic and therapeutic strategies coherent to the new epidemiological trend. An observational study was conducted, considering the time interval 1991-2012, acquiring data collected by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) through the "Cancer Incidence in 5 continents plus" (CI5 plus) project and dividing patients into four groups of age (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 years old). Data retrieved were compared to the latest report from Global Cancer Observatory, collected through the GLOBOCAN 2020 project, dividing patients in two groups: age 10-14, 15-19. Our findings highlighted an increasing prevalence of thyroid cancer rates in patients aged from 10 to 15 years old and from 15 to 19 years old, mainly in the female population, in Belarus (from 1991 to 2007), Cyprus, and Italy (from 2008 to 2012). Moreover, a further increase in incidence was highlighted in Italy according to data from GLOBOCAN 2020, with respect to other European countries.

CONCLUSION

An increasing prevalence of thyroid cancer is seen in age groups 10-19. Further research is required to understand the underlying cause and concomitantly identify the most proper screening and diagnostic techniques of thyroid nodules. Indeed, this is crucial to reach optimal surgical standards and better prognosis, possibly with more conservative approaches and maybe less postoperative complications.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Thyroid cancer is the 4th most common malignancy in children.

WHAT IS NEW

• In the last decades, an increasing pattern has been recorded. • In the US, it has outlined breast cancers as the most common cancer in females.

Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and risk factors of differentiated thyroid cancer in children

BACKGROUND

The incidence rate of children with thyroid cancer has an increasing trend. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic approaches of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in Chinese children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 1998 to March 2022, 52 cases undergoing surgical resection in Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University were divided by age (≤ 7 years old: n = 14 and 8-13 years old, n = 38). Treatment methods and clinical features were analyzed to evaluate prognostic factors for oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 52 cases, the proportion of local invasion in the pre-school group was found to be higher than that in the school-age group (p = 0.01). T stage was significantly different between the two groups (p ≤ 0.05); the proportion of T_1-2 was higher in the school-age group (32 cases, 84.2%), while the proportion of T₄ was higher in the pre-school group (6 cases, 42.8%) relatively. The postoperative complication rate was dramatically higher in pre-school children (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, the total thyroidectomy rate in the non-recurrent group was slightly higher than that in the recurrent group (p ≤ 0.05). Over half of the recurrent cases had low T stage and low ATA (American Thyroid Association) risk levels at initial diagnosis (78.3 and 51.4%).

CONCLUSION

The local invasion, tumor stage, and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury rates of the pre-school group were higher than that of the school-age group, where young age served as a potential hazard in DTC children. Hence, surgeons should emphasize high-risk features and optimize individualized surgical procedures for DTC children.