Fig 1 - uploaded by Mustapha Akanji Ajani
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Section of the right humeral bone biopsy showing sheets and follicles of malignant follicular epithelial cells having optically clear nuclei, nuclear grooves and nuclear pseudoinclusion. (Haematoxylin and eosin stains, X40)
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Citations
... These genetic mutations are particularly frequent in PTC, with the most common being the RET/PTC rearrangement, while BRAF mutation is seen relatively more common in radiationinduced thyroid carcinoma 9 . Thyroid carcinoma can present with metastases at presentation and this may be the first symptom the patient sees 16 . The most frequent site of secondary metastases includes the cervical lymph node and lungs 3 . ...
Background
Thyroid carcinoma is a common endocrine malignancy. It is however rare in childhood and often occurs as a result of radiation
exposure or inherited genetic mutations. Most childhood thyroid carcinomas are well differentiated. There are very few epidemiological
studies of this disease in Nigeria and our study aimed to determine the frequency in a subset of our population. The study aimed to
determine the prevalence and histopathological characteristics of childhood thyroid carcinoma in our environment.
Methods
This was a retrospective review of histopathologically diagnosed thyroid carcinoma in children less than 18 years of age in the
Department of Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan over a 40-year period. Histopathological diagnosis, age, sex and
other relevant clinical information were extracted from the hospital records and surgical pathology records of the department. All
cases of patients under18 years old had their slides re-examined and reclassified by two pathologists according to the World Health
Organization histopathological classification of thyroid tumours.
Results
There were 25 cases of thyroid carcinomas seen in children within the study period. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common,
accounting for 80% of the cases. Follicular carcinoma accounted for 12%, and medullary and anaplastic carcinoma accounted for
4% each. The mean age at presentation was 13 years. There was a female preponderance with females accounting for 60% of cases.
Tumours with distant metastasis made up 20% of the cases.
Conclusion
Childhood thyroid carcinomas are rare in our environment, with a minority of cases presenting with metastases.
