Papillary thyroid cancer in prepubertal patients: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature

Although papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is relatively rare in children, particularly in the prepubertal age group, its biological behavior resembles that of other pediatric solid tumors, where delayed diagnosis can significantly affect outcomes. In the broader oncology context, rare pediatric malignancies, such as prepubertal PTC, highlight the importance of tailoring diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to those applied in adults. PTC in prepubertal children is a rare occurrence that presents with a high likelihood of distant metastasis.

The present study describes 2 cases of PTC in 9-year-old girls with irrelevant medical, surgical, or family history. The first case was that of a 9-year-old girl with a painless neck swelling for 4 weeks. An ultrasonography revealed diffuse thyroid lesions and cervical lymphadenopathy.

She underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral neck dissection. Pathological analysis confirmed diffuse …