Pediatria pre prax 5/2024

Thyroid surgery in children

Introduction: The thyroid gland (TG) is one of the largest endocrine glands with a key role in the human body. The TG consists of two lobes connected by an isthmus and is richly supplied with blood vessels. Surgical treatment of TG diseases in children involves various indications, such as nodular goiter, thyrotoxicosis, genetically confirmed syndromes, or suspicion of malignancy. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of patients operated on at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, and the National Institute of Children’s Diseases for TG diseases between 2007 and 2023. Results: The study included 162 pediatric patients. An increase in surgeries was observed in the age group of 11–18 years (93% of patients). The most common indication was nodular goiter (38%), followed by differentiated thyroid carcinoma (32%) and Graves-Basedow thyrotoxicosis (21%). Postoperative complications occurred in 11% of patients, with permanent consequences observed in only 1.2%. Major complications included transient hypoparathyroidism and injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. All procedures were performed by a multidisciplinary team, with a focus on perioperative management and minimizing complications. Conclusion: The study highlights the specifics of thyroid surgery in children, emphasizing the importance of an experienced surgeon and an appropriate facility for successful management.

Keywords: thyroid gland, thyroid carcinoma, differentiated thyroid carcinoma, thyroidectomy, thyroid diseases in children