Status in clinical and molecular characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents

Abstract

The epidemiological, clinical, and molecular characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in children and adolescents are different from those in adults. The incidence of DTC in children and adolescents is very low, with high rates of lymph node metastasis, extra-thyroidal extension and recurrence, but mortality is lower than that in adults. Younger children with DTC tend to show a higher rate of recurrence, more lymph node metastases, and more extra-thyroidal extension. Furthermore, studies on molecular characteristics suggest that the diversity of gene mutations causes the clinical manifestations of DTC in children and adolescents that are different from those in adults. The incidence of gene fusion is significantly higher than in adults, while the incidence of point mutations is lower than in adults, which may be closely related to clinicopathological characteristics such as high tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis.