Current understanding and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in children-a review

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) often presents in children with regional lymph node metastasis accompanied by a high risk for recurrence. However, children rarely die from DTC, even those who present with distant metastatic disease. The most common presentation for DTC in children is a thyroid nodule, approximately one quarter of which are malignant. In this manuscript, we review the differential diagnosis, approach, and treatment for DTC in children with a special emphasis on future perspectives.